<p>A polygonal indexable insert has cutting edges that run rectilinearly or in a curved manner in a plane perpendicular to a locating surface and that fall from cutting corners having acute angles to cutting corners with obtuse angles following one another alternately. The cutting edges have a rake face which first of all falls and then rises with a back region. The back region together with a center part of the indexable insert forms an intersection curve. The intersection curve lies at a distance a from the starting point of the associated cutting edge in the region of the cutting corners in each case at their intersection with the angle bisector. It is at a distance b from the end point of the associated cutting edge in the region of the cutting corners in each case at their intersection with the angle bisector. The distance b is greater than the distance a.</p>
