concave: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1/C2Academic, Technical, Formal
Quick answer
What does “concave” mean?
Curved inwards, like the inner surface of a sphere or a bowl.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Curved inwards, like the inner surface of a sphere or a bowl.
Having a surface that curves inward. In geometry, a polygon is concave if at least one interior angle is greater than 180°, meaning it has an indentation.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or usage differences. Spelling is identical.
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency and technical in both UK and US English.
Grammar
How to Use “concave” in a Sentence
The [noun] is concave.The [noun] has a concave [surface/part].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “concave” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The craftsman will concave the wooden panel slightly to improve the fit.
- The metal plate was concaved by the pressure.
American English
- The machine concaves the plastic sheet to form a tray.
- The surface had concaved over time.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used, except in product design or specification contexts (e.g., 'The phone's concave back fits the hand').
Academic
Common in geometry, physics (optics), engineering, and design textbooks and papers.
Everyday
Limited use. Might describe a spoon, a satellite dish, or a sunken area.
Technical
Core term in optics (lenses, mirrors), mathematics (polygons), geology (basins), and dentistry (teeth).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “concave”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “concave”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “concave”
- Confusing 'concave' with 'convex'. A common trick: conCAVE = a cave goes in.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Remember: conCAVE – a cave goes INwards. ConVEX – sounds like 'vex', which might stick OUT (like a problem).
Yes, but it is rare and highly technical (e.g., in manufacturing or geology). The adjective form is overwhelmingly more common.
Very rarely. It is a specialist term. In everyday talk, people might say 'curved inward', 'hollow', or 'bowl-shaped' instead.
It is a function whose graph curves downward (like an upside-down bowl). Its second derivative is negative or zero, indicating a maximum turning point.
Curved inwards, like the inner surface of a sphere or a bowl.
Concave is usually academic, technical, formal in register.
Concave: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒn.keɪv/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːn.keɪv/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: CONCAVE looks like 'cave' – a cave goes INwards.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONCAVE IS A CONTAINER (it holds/contains space within its inward curve).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is typically concave?