Gaussian curve with a two-dimensional domain Manyshapes have metaphorical names , i.e., their names aremetaphors : theseshapes are named after a most common object that has it. For example, "U-shape" is a shape that resembles the letterU , abell-shaped curve has the shape of the vertical cross section of abell , etc. These terms may variously refer to objects, theircross sections orprojections .
Some of these names are "classical terms", i.e., words ofLatin orAncient Greek etymology . Others areEnglish language constructs (although the base words may have non-English etymology). In some disciplines, where shapes of subjects in question are a very important consideration, the shape naming may be quite elaborate, see, e.g.,the taxonomy of shapes ofplant leaves inbotany .
Astroid Aquiline ,Bathtub curve Basket-handle arch Bell-shaped curve Biconic shape , a shape in a way opposite to the hourglass: it is based on two oppositely orientedcones ortruncated cones with their bases joined; the cones are not necessarily the sameBow shape Bullet Nose [ 1] Butterfly Catenary catēna , which means "chain ".Cissoid Ancient Greek κισσοειδής(kissoeidēs) 'ivy -shaped')Cocked hat curve Bicorn [ 3] Cone pine cone »)Doughnut shape Dragon curve Egg-shaped Elephant Fish curve Geoid Earth "), the term specifically introduced to denote the approximation of the shape of theEarth , which is approximately spherical,but not exactly so Heart shapeHedgehog Horseshoe-shaped orhippocrepiform , resembling ahorseshoe , cf.horseshoe (disambiguation) . Inbotany , also calledlecotropal (see below)Hourglass shape orhourglass figure , the one that resembles anhourglass ; nearly symmetric shape wide at its ends and narrow in the middle; some flat shapes may be alternatively compared to thefigure eight or hourglassInverted bell Kite Lecotropal , inbotany , shaped like a horseshoe (seehorseshoe-shaped , above). From Greek λέκος dish + -τροπος turning[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] Lens Vesica lentil seed); see alsomandorla , almond-shapedLune Maltese Cross curve [ 8] Mandorla Mushroom shape , which became infamous as a result of themushroom cloud [ 9] Nephroid (fromAncient Greek ὁ νεφρός(ho nephros) 'kidney -shaped')Oval egg ), a descriptive term applied to several kinds of "rounded" shapes, including theegg shape Pear shaped, in reference to the shape of apear , i.e., a generally rounded shape, tapered towards the top and more spherical/circular at the bottomRod , a 3-dimensional ,solid (filled)cylinder Rose , like the petals of a flowerSalinon Scarabaeus curve [ 10] Serpentine Snowflake , fractal branching structure with rotational symmetry (often of order 6)Stadium [ 11] Stirrup curve [ 12] Star Sunburst Tomahawk Tree , a figure with branches that do not rejoin that may also have branches that do not rejoin and so on.Ungula Numbers and letters [ edit ] A-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterA B-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterB C-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterC D-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterD Deltoid , the shape that resembles the Greek capital letterΔ E-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterE F-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterF Figure 0 , the shape that resembles the numeral0 , more commonly referred to as an O-shape, see belowFigure 1 , the shape that resembles the numeral1 Figure 2 , the shape that resembles the numeral2 Figure 3 , the shape that resembles the numeral3 Figure 4 , the shape that resembles the numeral4 Figure 5 , the shape that resembles the numeral5 Figure 6 , the shape that resembles the numeral6 Figure 7 , the shape that resembles the numeral7 Figure 8 , the shape that resembles the numeral8 Figure 9 , the shape that resembles the numeral9 G-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterG H-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterH I-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterꞮ in aserif font , i.e., with horizontal strokesJ-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterJ K-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterK Kappa curve Greek letter ϰ (kappa) .L-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterL Lemniscate , the shape that resembles theinfinity symbol M-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterM (interchangeable with theW-shape )N-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterN (interchangeable with theZ-shape )O-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterO P-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterP P-trap , a P-shaped pipe under a sink or basinPi-shape , the shape that resembles the Greek capital letterΠ Q-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterQ R-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterR S-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterS
T-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterT U-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterU Hyoid , the shape that resembles the Greek letterυ V-shape , the shape that resembles the letterV , also known as theChevron (which includes the inverted-V shape)W-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterW (interchangeable with theM-shape )X-shape , the shape that resembles the letterX Chiasm χ Y-shape , the shape that resembles the letterY Z-shape , the shape that resembles the capital letterZ (interchangeable with theN-shape )Z-twist , contrasted with S-twist for yarn
