curl Hear it!

curl Definition

curl (kʉrl)

transitive verb

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

Etymology: 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

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

noun

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

curl Idioms

curl up

  1. to gather into spirals or curls; roll up
  2. to sit or lie with the legs drawn up
  3. Informal to collapse; break down

in curl

curled

curl Synonyms

curl

n.

ringlet, coil, spiral, wave, kink, curlicue, lock, tress, lovelock; see also coil, hair 1, lock 2.

curl Synonyms

curl

v.

  1. To twist

    curve, coil, wave, bend, spiral, crinkle, wind, twine, loop, crimp, kink, scallop, lap, fold, roll, indent, contort, wreathe, meander, ripple, buckle, zigzag, entwine, wrinkle, undulate, twirl, swirl, whirl, crisp, frizz, turn; see also coil, wave 4.

    Antonyms uncurl, straighten*, unbend. *

  2. To set hair

    pin up, roll up, crimp, form into ringlets; see wave 5.

curl Usage Examples

Object

  • free-kick: Harte stepped to curl the free-kick high into Molina's net, the defender's eighth goal of the season.
  • tong: LEFT: This primitive-looking cooker is part of a display of domestic items which also includes vacuum cleaners, radios and electric curling tongs.
  • rink: Facilities include swimming pool, leisure club, boats on Loch Brora for fishing, curling rink, snooker, croquet and putting green.
  • shot: The same Ayr player scored the third in the 35th minute with a curling shot from the edge of the box.
  • kick: Moments later Ruscoe curled a low free 30-yard kick inside the right post.
  • ribbon: You can also curl excess ribbon or string to make it more decorative.

Converse of object

hamstring: Gluteal muscles are also strengthened by half squats and hamstring curls.

Adjective modifier

  • flaxen: Lady Caroline herself was described as slender, graceful, with short clipped flaxen curls with a soft prettily affected voice.
  • blond: Your blond curls bounce now that your flesh is all anointed with the perfume of a boy aware.
  • blond: I saw my slim body with its blond curls.
  • golden: What, too, would the fellows at the Drones say if I were to saunter in with golden curls all over me?
  • brown: He wears a wig of shoulder length soft brown curls.
  • tight: The tail can be carried high and curved, in a tight curl or curved over.

Followed by an intransitive particle

up: We buried her in the orchard curled up like she was asleep.

Preposition: in

free-kick: Thomas curls in a free-kick from the left and Fortune steals in to head home.

Preposition: of

  • lip: The studied slouch, the hunched shoulders, the nonchalant curl of the lip all add up to the perfect picture of disaffected youth.
  • wave: The floater means that the surfer rides on the top of the breaking curl of the wave.

Noun used with modifier

  • bicep: This is a heart and lung exercise and will increase your heart rate and breathing. 1 set 15 reps of bicep curls.
  • dumbbell: I will use a bit of body language on things like dumbbell curls to grind a few more reps out.
  • leaf: Once peach leaf curl gets a hold it is very difficult to control.