recurved

adjective

re·​curved (ˌ)rē-ˈkərvd How to pronounce recurved (audio)
: curved backward or inward
recurved claws
recurved petals

Examples of recurved in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Martill notes that the short length of the tail in relation to the body, structure of the pelvis, impressions of body scales, recurved teeth, high vertebral count and the shape of the vertebrae all make Tetrapodophis a snake. Christie Wilcox, Discover Magazine, 24 July 2015 Great predators with serrated, recurved teeth like Megalosaurus stalked the forests. Riley Black, National Geographic, 11 Sep. 2020 The shape was unmistakable: The recurved claw was a dead ringer for the characteristic foot claw of dinosaurs like Deinonychus and Velociraptor, only this one was much larger. Riley Black, Smithsonian Magazine, 2 June 2020 Shun is one of Lokay’s preferred knife brands, and this razor-sharp, recurved and corrosion-resistant blade makes cutting through steak almost as enjoyable as eating the steak itself. Matt Haines, CNN Underscored, 30 July 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recurved.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1598, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of recurved was in 1598

Dictionary Entries Near recurved

Cite this Entry

“Recurved.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recurved. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

recurved

adjective
re·​curved (ˈ)rē-ˈkərvd How to pronounce recurved (audio)
: curved backward or inward
recurved claws

More from Merriam-Webster on recurved

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!