lekuk

Lekuk is a noun in Indonesian and Malay that denotes a curvature, indentation, groove, or contour on a surface or object. It describes the form produced by bending, carving, or natural processes rather than the material’s texture or hardness. The term is widely used in both technical and everyday language to specify a shallow concavity or recessed feature.

In geology, landscaping, and geomorphology, lekuk refers to concavities and indentations in terrain, such as rock faces or riverbanks shaped by erosion. In engineering, manufacturing, and design, the word describes intentional grooves or contours machined or formed into parts, shelves, or decorative surfaces. In architecture and sculpture, lekuk denotes recessed profiles that contribute to the overall silhouette of a composition. In anatomy or casual speech, it can describe natural depressions or contours on the body, such as facial indentations or body contours.

Etymology and forms: The term is native to Indonesian and Malay vocabularies. It commonly appears in reduplicated forms such as lekuk-lekuk to emphasize multiple contours or variations, and in the derived noun lekukan meaning a single indentation or groove. Related terms include lengkung (curve) and bentuk lekuk (contoured form).