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curl

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(kʉrl)

transitive verb

to wind or twist (esp. hair) into ringlets or coils
to cause to roll over or bend around
to raise the upper corner of (the lip), as in showing contempt or scorn

Origin: ME curlen, by metathesis < crullen, to curl, bend, twist < crul, curly, akin to Du krul < Gmc *kruzla < IE *greu-s < base *ger-: see cradle

intransitive verb

to form curls; become curled
to assume a spiral or curved shape
to move in spirals; undulate
to play the game of curling

noun

a little coil of hair; ringlet
anything with a spiral or curled shape; any coil
a curling or being curled
any of various diseases of plants in which the leaves curl up
an exercise in which a weight or other resistance is pulled upward in a curl-like motion by a fully extended arm or leg

See curl in American Heritage Dictionary 4

curl

verb curled, curling curl·ing, curls

verb, transitive

To twist (the hair, for example) into ringlets or coils.
To form into a coiled or spiral shape: curled the ends of the ribbon.
To decorate with coiled or spiral shapes.
To raise and turn under (the upper lip), as in snarling or showing scorn.
Sports To lift (a weight) by performing a curl.

verb, intransitive

To form ringlets or coils.
To assume a spiral or curved shape.
To move in a curve or spiral: The wave curled over the surfer.
Sports To engage in curling.

noun

Something with a spiral or coiled shape.
A coil or ringlet of hair.
A treatment in which the hair is curled.
a. The act of curling: the curl of a meandering river.
b. The state of being curled.
Sports A weightlifting exercise using one or two hands, in which a weight held at the thigh or to the side of the body is raised to the chest or shoulder and then lowered without moving the upper arms, shoulders, or back.
Any of various plant diseases in which the leaves roll up.