contour

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
contour/ˈkɒntʊə(r)/

▶noun

• 1 an outline, especially one representing or bounding the shape or form of something.

  ■ (also contour line) a line on a map joining points of equal height above or below sea level.

  ■ a line joining points on a diagram at which some property has the same value.

• 2 a way in which something varies, especially the pitch of music or the pattern of tones in an utterance.

▶verb

• 1 mould into a specific shape.

• 2 (usu. as adj. contoured) mark (a map or diagram) with contours.

• 3 (of a road or railway) follow the outline of (a topographical feature).

– origin C17: from Fr., from Ital. contorno, from contornare ‘draw in outline’, from con- ‘together’ + tornare ‘to turn’.