1660s, a term in painting and sculpture, from French contour "circumference, outline," from Italian and Medieval Latin contornare "to go around," from Latin com-, intensive prefix (see com-), + tornare "to turn (on a lathe);" see turn (v.).
First recorded application to topography is from 1769. Earlier the word was used to mean "bedspread, quilt" (early 15c.) in reference to its falling over the sides of the mattress. Related: Contoured. Contour line in geography is from 1844.
例文
1. There were three moderate climbs to just below the 450 feet contour .
ちょうど450フィートの等高線の下に3つの緩やかな坂がある。/
2.The contour of the Atlantic coast of America is very irregular.
米国の太平洋沿いの海岸線は非常に曲がりくねっている。
3. Contour is NASA 's second mission dedicated to studying comets.