|
contour| On a map, a line drawn to join points of equal height. Contours are drawn at regular height intervals; for example, every 10 m. The closer together the lines are, the steeper the slope. Contour patterns can be used to interpret the relief of an area and to identify land forms. |
contour| In art, a line that defines a shape more three-dimensionally than an ordinary outline in drawing. By changing the thickness and intensity (darkness), a contour line can give the impression of texture, shape, form, and spatial relationships between objects. A contour drawing, or line drawing, is made up entirely of lines – no shading, tones, or textures are added. |
How to thank TFD for its existence? Tell a friend about us, add a link to this page, add the site to iGoogle, or visit webmaster's page for free fun content. |
?Sign in  |
|---|
|
|
|
| ? Mentioned in | | ? References in classic literature |
|---|
| And, not to speak of the highly presumable difference of contour between a young sucking whale and a full-grown Platonian Leviathan; yet, even in the case of one of those young sucking whales hoisted to a ship's deck, such is then the outlandish, eel-like, limbered, varying shape of him, that his precise expression the devil himself could not catch. The navigation of his craft must have engrossed all the Roman's attention in the calm of a summer's day (he would choose his weather), when the single row of long sweeps (the galley would be a light one, not a trireme) could fall in easy cadence upon a sheet of water like plate-glass, reflecting faithfully the classic form of his vessel and the contour of the lonely shores close on his left hand. In spite of a new suit of clothes, whose pristine folds refused to adapt themselves entirely to the contour of his figure, he was somewhat subdued by the unexpected elegance of the drawing-room of Christie's host. |