Cambering

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Forming a slight convex or arched shape, often referring to a structural element or surface
2. Shaping something into a gentle curve or arch to improve stability or aesthetics
3. Giving a surface or object a curved or arched contour for functional or visual purposes

Etymology: "Cambering" is the present participle of "camber," which is a verb meaning to build a surface with a slight upward curve, as with a road that bows at its centre so rainwater runs off. The noun "camber" came into English in the 1500s from Old French "cambrer," meaning to arch or bend, which in turn came from Latin "camurus," meaning curved or crooked. The Latin root also gave English "camera" through a different path, as the vaulted room sense of "camera" arose from Latin "camera," a vault, itself borrowed from Greek "kamara," meaning arched roof. The verb form appears to have developed from the noun, so "cambering" is simply the regular "-ing" ending added to the verb stem.

Synonyms: curving, arching, bending, tilting, slope