1. a pointed arch formed by two curves that meet at a point, characteristic of Gothic architecture
Usage: architecture
2. the pointed or tapered nose cone of a missile or rocket
Usage: military, aerospace
3. a diagonal rib in a vault or ceiling
Usage: architecture

Examples

• The cathedral's interior was dominated by soaring ogives that drew the eye upward.
• Medieval builders used ogives to distribute weight more efficiently in Gothic structures.
• The rocket's ogive was designed to minimize air resistance during flight.
• The ogives of the vault created a complex geometric pattern across the ceiling.
• Gothic architecture is instantly recognizable by its characteristic pointed ogives.