recurvate

1 of 2

verb

re·​cur·​vate

rə̇ˈkərˌvāt,

ˈrēkərˌ-

-ed/-ing/-s

transitive verb

: to cause to bend backwards

intransitive verb

: to curve back

recurvation

¦rē+

noun

recurvate

2 of 2

adjective

re·​cur·​vate

rə̇ˈkərˌvāt,

(ˈ)rē¦kərvə̇t

: recurved

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Latin recurvatus, past participle of recurvare, from re- + curvare to curve

Adjective

Latin recurvatus

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

• More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
• Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
• Advanced search features
• Ad free!