scooplike

Scooplike is an adjective used to describe shapes, contours, or objects that resemble a scoop in form. A scoop is typically a shallow, concave hollow with rounded edges that can collect or hold material. Therefore a scooplike surface or object has a similar concavity or indentation, often curving smoothly from its rim toward a bottom.

Etymology and usage: The term derives from the noun scoop plus the suffix -like. It is used across disciplines to compare forms in geometry, design, geology, biology, and art. It is descriptive rather than prescriptive, and does not imply exact proportions.

Applications: In product design and ergonomics, scooplike components include bowls and receptacles with broad rims and inward-curving bases to improve filling and handling. In geology and geography, scooplike depressions describe bowl-shaped hollows with rounded rims, such as certain craters or basins formed by erosion. In biology and botany, scooplike structures refer to concave, hollow features used to collect fluids or spores or to guide movement of materials, such as specialized mouthparts or leaf morphologies. In art and sculpture, scooplike forms appear as concave hollows or vessels that emphasize a soft, rounded interior profile.

Related terms include bowl-shaped, cuplike, concave, and vessel-like forms.