camber

Etymology

From Old French cambre (“bent”), from Latin camurum, from camur (“arched”).

noun

1. A slight convexity, arching or curvature of a surface of a road, beam, roof, ship's deck etc., so that liquids will flow off the sides.
   The track was stony with a grassy camber up the middle. 2022, Liam McIlvanney, The Heretic, page 443
2. The slope of a curved road created to minimize the effect of centrifugal force.
   Again we were stricken of our palsy, slowed down, re-accelerated, and there, at last, were the few huts of a hamlet, with the lorry, lying at an angle in the road's camber, outside a tea-shop. 1952, Norman Lewis, Golden Earth
   Even a small camber one way caused the whole outfit to list alarmingly. 2000, Bob Foster, Birdum or Bust!, Henley Beach, SA: Seaview Press, page 173
3. (architecture) An upward concavity in the underside of a beam, girder, or lintel; also, a slight upward concavity in a straight arch.
4. (automotive) The alignment on the roll axis of the wheels of a road vehicle, where positive camber signifies that the wheels are closer together at the bottom than the top.
5. (aviation) The curvature of an airfoil.
6. (nautical) A small enclosed dock in which timber for masts (etc.) is kept to weather.

verb

1. To curve upwards in the middle.
2. To adjust the camber of the wheels of a vehicle.
   Because he cambered the tires too much, he had less control on the turns.