Corrugation

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /ˌkɔɹ.əˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

Definitions

1. A pattern consisting of raised lines or grooves can create both decorative and functional surfaces in various materials
2. It denotes the act of shaping a material with undulating contours to improve both durability and appearance
3. A series of ridges or grooves formed on a surface offers enhancements in aesthetic appeal and structural integrity

Etymology: Latin speakers used "ruga" for a wrinkle, especially one on the skin, and the verb "corrugare" meant to wrinkle something up or draw it into folds. English took the word from that Latin verb, so "corrugation" literally describes the making of wrinkles. The same root gives us "rugose," a term in biology and botany for a surface covered in ridges or creases. The word's sense shifted from the body to the workshop. Corrugated iron and cardboard are shaped into parallel ridges, which stiffen a flat sheet without adding much weight. The ridges make the material harder to bend and easier to handle, so the wrinkle that once described a face became a method of strengthening metal and paper.

Synonyms: ridge, wrinkle, fold, groove, plication