waistlike

Waistlike is an adjective used to describe a form or silhouette that resembles a waist—a constricted middle region that is narrower than the surrounding sections. It connotes an hourglass or pinched profile and can apply to physical objects, drawings, or natural forms. The term is typically descriptive rather than technical, conveying visual impression rather than precise measurements.

Common contexts include fashion and design, where waistlike silhouettes emphasize the midsection; in sculpture and architecture, where vessels or structures taper at midheight; and in biology or botany, where stems, trunks, or other bodies show a midline constriction that resembles a waist. In geology or earth science, canyons, twin peaks, or rock formations may display waistlike narrowing between broader segments.

Related terms include waist-shaped, hourglass-shaped, and cinched or constricted forms. The expression is often subjective and depends on perspective; precise characterization usually relies on measurements of midsection width relative to the ends. The etymology combines waist with the suffix -like, indicating resemblance.