French Conversation · Level 69
60 words
French word
contour
Pronunciation
IPA/kɔ̃tuʁ/
Meaning
- masculine nounoutline
Example
On voit le contour de son visage.
You can see the outline of his face.
More examples
On voit les contours de la ville depuis la colline.
You can see the contours of the city from the hill.
Core concept
The visible boundary that traces a form and gives a project or place its general outer limits.
Common phrases
les contours de la ville
the contours of the city
estomper le contour
blur the outline
le contour du corps
the body's outline
Similar words
profil: The outline of a face or body as seen from the side.
silhouette: A person's or object's overall shape seen as a dark shadow.
forme: The general shape and outward appearance of a person or object.
ligne: A straight or curved line used to mark the limits of a shape.
Definition in French
Limite ou bord qui délimite une surface et, par extension, l'ensemble approximatif d'un projet, d'une idée ou d'une zone.
Word origin
French contour is borrowed from Italian contorno, which derives from Latin contornare, meaning to make round or turn around.
Usage tips
- The first syllable of contour is nasal, and the final r is pronounced: /kɔ̃tuʁ/.
Other meanings
- boundarynoun
- perimeternoun
Opposites
- centrecenternoun
Related words
- contournercircumventverb
- contournementcircumventionnoun