(一般作contours)
1- an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something轮廓; 外形; 周线, 围线：
she traced the contours of his face with her finger
她用手指描绘他的脸部轮廓
figurative 〈喻〉the orchestra tend to smooth the music's contours.
管弦乐队往往把音乐的轮廓变得圆浑。
1.1
- outline of a natural feature such as a hill or valley（天然地形的）轮廓：
cliffs with grassy rounded contours.
长满青草的圆形悬崖。
1.2
- short for CONTOUR LINE.CONTOUR LINE的简称。
1.3
- a line joining points on a diagram at which some property has the same value等高线; 恒值线：
the figure shows contours of 21-cm line emission of atomic hydrogen.
此图形标明原子氢的21厘米发射谱线的等高线。
1.4
- a way in which something varies, especially the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance（音调或声调的）升降曲线; 变化方式。
with obj.
1
- （一般作be contoured）mould into a specific shape, typically one designed to fit into something else使与某轮廓吻合：
the compartment has been contoured with smooth rounded corners
这个车厢隔间的棱角光滑圆溜
as adj. contoured the contoured leather seats.符合人体曲线的皮椅。
2
- mark (a map or diagram) with contour lines在（地图, 图表）上标等高线：
as adj. contoured a huge contoured map.巨幅等高线地图。
3
- (of a road or railway) follow the outline of (a topographical feature), especially along a contour line（公路, 铁路）循地形轮廓（尤指循等高线）而行：
the road contours the hillside
公路沿着山坡延伸
no obj. the road rises sharply before contouring along the side of the fell.公路在沿着下坡延伸前突然变得很陡。
词源
mid 17th cent.: from French, from Italian contorno, from contornare 'draw in outline', from con- 'together' + tornare 'to turn'.