straight
straight lines LINE
- something which goes or extends continuously in one direction only, is straight
a straight line ◎ straight hair ◎ a straight road
- to become straight: straighten (out); to make sth straight: straighten sth (out)
After a series of bends, the road straightens out. ◎ to straighten your hair
- in the correct position or in a straight line: straight (adjective, adverb)
Look at that wall. Do you think it's quite straight? ◎ That picture's not quite straight. ◎ Stand up straight! (= with a straight back)
He couldn't walk straight.
- standing vertically: upright (adjective, adverb)
in an upright position ◎ to stand upright
※ not straight
- to make sth that was straight into a curved shape: bend* sth
She bent her knees.
- to be or become curved: bend*; adjective: bent
The branch he was on began to bend, but it did not break. ◎ a bent fork
- bent so that it is not straight or level; not in the correct position: crooked
crooked teeth ◎ 'Is my hat on straight?' 'No, it's a bit crooked.'
- a part of a road, river, etc that is not straight: bend
The car came around the bend very fast. ◎ a bend in the river ◎ a sharp bend in the road
- a line that bends round, gradually changing direction: curve; to have the shape of a curve: curve; adjective: curved
the curves of a person's body ◎ the curve of the hill ◎ a gentle/smooth curve ◎ The road curved gently to the right. ◎ a curved line
- a turn or bend in sth that should be straight: kink
This wire is supposed to be straight but there's a kink in the middle.
- to curve down in the middle under the weight of sth: sag
The mattress is beginning to sag.
- to become bent and out of shape, for example because of heat: warp
The door had become warped and wouldn't shut easily.
- to bend because of heat, force, weakness, etc: buckle
My bike hit a pothole and the front wheel buckled.
- to bend and break or fall down because of pressure or force: give* way
The bench gave way under the weight of all the people.
※ able to bend
- able to bend easily without breaking: flexible; noun (U): flexibility
a flexible pipe
- not easy to bend, or impossible to bend: inflexible, rigid; nouns (U): inflexibility, rigidity
safety helmets made from rigid plastic
※ not upright
- to be in a position that is not straight or upright: lean; to cause sth to be in this kind of position: lean sth
The tree was old and had begun to lean to one side. ◎ You can lean the bike against the wall.
- to lean in a particular direction: slant
Her writing slants backwards.
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