plural recurves
1
: an archery bow with tips that curve away from the string side when the bow is not strung
Primitive bows are simply a stick and string; a recurve adds a curve on each limb of the bow.—
Will Elliott
—often used before another nounWill Elliotta recurve bow
2
: a curve in a backward or reverse direction
A number of computer models indicate that the storm may cross the Florida peninsula and enter the Gulf of Mexico … . A recurve to the north into Georgia is a possibility …—Pam Knox
Pam Knox
recurved; recurving; recurves
: to curve or turn in a backward or reverse direction
especially, of a weather disturbance
: to reverse the direction of travel by curving back
… it's common for a hurricane like Irma to near the East Coast but then recurve away, after hitting a force field in the form of westerly winds at the upper levels of the atmosphere. —Andrew Freedman
Andrew Freedman Examples of recurve in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebKate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024
The blade has a slight recurve shape and at the spine measures nearly 0.20-inch thick.
—Jim Cobb, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023
Then its likely to recurve to the north per guidance members.
—Leigh Morgan, al, 4 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for recurve 
Noun
The range offers $20 rentals of recurve bows – the more traditional kind, not as complicated as a compound – which comes with introductory coaching.
—Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 12 Feb. 2024
The blade has a slight recurve shape and at the spine measures nearly 0.20-inch thick.
—Jim Cobb, Field & Stream, 4 Jan. 2024
Verb
Beyond that, all major hurricane models that meteorologists use to forecast storms indicate that Lee will recurve away from Florida.
—Doyle Rice, USA TODAY, 6 Sep. 2023
Then its likely to recurve to the north per guidance members.
—Leigh Morgan, al, 4 Sep. 2023
See all Example Sentences for recurve
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'recurve.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near recurve
Cite this Entry
“Recurve.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/recurve. Accessed 20 Aug. 2024.
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