curl
Language: English
Part of speech: verb
Pronunciation: ipa: /kɜːl/
ipa: [kʰəːɫ]
ipa: /kɜɹl/
ipa: [kʰɝɫ]
rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)l
Forms: form: curls
form: curling
form: curled
form: curled
Etymology: From metathesis of Middle English crulle (“curled, curly”), of uncertain origin but probably from an unrecorded Old English word or from Middle Dutch crul, crulle (“curl”), ultimately from Proto-Germanic *kruzlǭ (“bent or crooked object, curl”), connected to *krūsą (“curl”), of unknown origin.
Cognate with Saterland Frisian Krulle (“curl, lock”), West Frisian krul (“curl”), Dutch krul (“curl”), German Low German Krull (“curl”), dialectal German Krolle (“curl”), Danish krølle (“curl”), Norwegian Bokmål krøll (“curl”). Related also to Saterland Frisian Kruus (“curl”), German kraus (“frizzy, crumpled, curly”), Danish krus (“curl”), Swedish krusa (“to crimp, curl”). Compare also Gothic 𐌺𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍃𐍄𐌰𐌽 (kriustan, “to grind, crush, gnash”).
Senses: examples: text: He picked the ball up about forty yards out on the left wing, left a trail of Arsenal defenders in his wake, and curled the ball round Geoff Barnett as he came right out into the far corner.
ref: 1998, Nick Hornby, Fever Pitch, page 70:
text: Campbell should have scored but missed with a header from four yards at the far post before Taylor-Fletcher came close to adding a second when he curled an effort over the stranded Reina, who should have been punished for a poor clearance.
ref: 2011 January 12, Saj Chowdhury, “Liverpool 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC:
glosses: To cause to move in a curve.
examples: text: She curls her spine; she wedges a pillow between her knees.
ref: 2004, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Twelve Times Blessed, page 249:
glosses: To make into a curl or spiral.
examples: text: It seemed to me that Mr. St. John's under lip protruded, and his upper lip curled a moment.
ref: 1847, Charlotte Brontë, chapter XXXI, in Jane Eyre:
glosses: To assume the shape of a curl or spiral.
examples: text: Clouds curled down from the mountains.
ref: 1977, Scott O'Dell, Carlota, page 1:
text: The ball curled to a stop within six inches of the hole.
ref: 2007, John Coyne, The Caddie Who Knew Ben Hogan, page 97:
glosses: To move in curves.
examples: text: I curl at my local club every weekend.
topics: ball-games
curling
games
hobbies
lifestyle
sports
glosses: To take part in the sport of curling.
examples: text: When curling the weight, bring the barbell up toward the chin, then return it to its starting position. Keep your elbows and upper arms as immobile as possible to isolate the biceps.
ref: 2008, Joseph Lee Klapper, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boosting Your Metabolism, page 119:
topics: hobbies
lifestyle
sports
weightlifting
glosses: To exercise by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially of the biceps.
examples: text: But curl their locks with bodkins and with braids
ref: 1576, George Gascoigne, The Steele Glas, Epilogus:
text: There was also hairdressing: hairdressing, too, really was hairdressing in those times — no running a comb through it and that was that. It was curled, frizzed, waved, put in curlers overnight, waved with hot tongs;[…].
ref: 1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:
glosses: To twist or form (the hair, etc.) into ringlets.
examples: text: Thicker than the snakie locks / That curld Megæra.
ref: 1667, John Milton, “Book VII”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:
text: Curling with metaphors a plain intention.
ref: 1633, George Herbert, Jordan:
glosses: To deck with, or as if with, curls; to ornament.
examples: text: Seas would be pools without the brushing air / To curl the waves.
ref: 1700, [John] Dryden, “The Flower and the Leaf: Or, The Lady in the Arbour. A Vision.”, in Fables Ancient and Modern; […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC:
glosses: To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple.
qualifier: hat-making
glosses: To shape (the brim of a hat) into a curve.
Synonyms: sense: to make into a curl or spiral
word: arch
sense: to make into a curl or spiral
word: coil
sense: to make into a curl or spiral
word: roll up
sense: to assume the shape of a curl or spiral
word: coil
sense: to assume the shape of a curl or spiral
word: roll up
sense: to move in curves
word: curve
sense: to move in curves
word: spiral
Derived terms: curlable
curled
curler
curling
curling iron
curlingly
curling tongs
curl one off
curl one out
curl someone's hair
curl up
hair-curling
hair curling
leaf-curling spider
make someone's hair curl
make someone's toenails curl
make someone's toes curl
noncurling
outcurl
querl
recurl
toe-curling
uncurl
upcurl
Related terms: coil