Word: curl Part of Speech: noun 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”). Pronunciation: /kɜːl/, [kʰəːɫ], /kɜɹl/, [kʰɝɫ], /kʌrl/ 1. A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet. Example: My hair doesn't have much curl. Example: […]she took it down, looked long and fondly at it, then, shaking her curls about her face, as if to hide the act, pressed it to her lips and seemed to weep over it in an uncontrollable paroxysm of tender grief. 2. A curved stroke or shape. Example: […] the backs of their necks and their forelegs are decorated with curls and their necks and bodies are covered with fine, undulating lines. 3. A spin making the trajectory of an object curve. Example: It is possible to use the wind which blows from the left to the right by playing well into the wind with the slightest bit of curl on the ball[…] 4. Movement of a moving rock away from a straight line. 5. Any exercise performed by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially those that train the biceps. Example: Now do a curl and an overhead press, keeping your palms facing in. 6. The vector field denoting the rotationality of a given vector field. Example: The curl of the vector field #92;vec#123;F#125;(x,y,z) is the vector field #92;operatorname#123;curl#125;#92;,#92;vec#123;F#125;#92;equiv#92;vec#123;#92;nabla#125;#92;times#92;vec#123;F#125;#61;#92;left(#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;z#125;#123;#92;partialy#125;-#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;y#125;#123;#92;partialz#125;,#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;x#125;#123;#92;partialz#125;-#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;z#125;#123;#92;partialx#125;,#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;y#125;#123;#92;partialx#125;-#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;x#125;#123;#92;partialy#125;#92;right). Example: In 2D, when Q is a polygonal domain, the singularities of Type (2) disappear because ψ is the scalar curl of u and is such that its vectorial curl is zero. 7. The vector operator, denoted rm curl; or ⃑∇×⃑(·), that generates this field. Labels: proper-noun 8. Any of various diseases of plants causing the leaves or shoots to curl up; often specifically the potato curl. Labels: uncountable Example: These potatoes, however, planted the next year, have a fair yield, untouched by the curl. 9. The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the flame. Example: The one-piece back is of a medium curl. 10. A pattern where the receiver appears to be running a fly pattern but after a set number of steps or yards quickly stops and turns around, looking for a pass. 11. A thin, curved piece of chocolate used as decoration. Labels: in-plural 12. The concave part of a breaking wave. Example: The main object in surfing is to always remain in the curl.