Definition

Adjective: Having a form or curve that resembles the letter "S".

Usage and Examples

This adjective describes an object, line, or path that curves in one direction and then curves back in the opposite direction, creating a sinuous, double-curve form like the uppercase or lowercase letter 'S'.

• The river followed an s-shaped course through the valley.
• The designer used an s-shaped motif in the ironwork of the gate.
• The graph showed an s-shaped growth curve, indicating a slow start, rapid growth, and then a plateau.

Advanced Usage

• Technical/Descriptive Use: Commonly used in fields like biology, geography, design, and statistics to describe specific patterns or forms.
  • The snake moved in an s-shaped pattern across the sand.
  • The data produced a characteristic s-shaped logistic function.

Variants and Related Words

• Sigmoid (adj): A more technical or scientific synonym for s-shaped, often used in mathematics, biology, and medicine.
  • The study plotted a sigmoid curve to model the population growth.
• Serpentine (adj): While meaning "twisting and turning like a snake," it can describe a more complex series of curves than a single, simple 'S' shape.
  • The car navigated the serpentine mountain road.

Synonyms

• Curved
• Sinuous
• Twisting

Antonyms

• Straight
• Linear
• Angular

Adjective

1. shaped in the form of the letter S