Dictionary

curl en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /keːl/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /kʌrl/ (Scotland)
• [kʰəːɫ] (Received-Pronunciation)
• /kɜɹl/ (US)
• [kʰɝɫ] (US)
• [kʰʌrɫ] (Scotland)
• [kʰʌɾɫ] (Scotland)
• /kɛːl/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• /kɜːl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

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”).

Meanings

1. A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet.
   • Serene, smiling, enigmatic, she faced him with no fear whatever showing in her dark eyes.[…]She put back a truant curl from her forehead where it had sought egress to the world, and looked him full in the face now, drawing a deep breath which caused the round of her bosom to lift the lace at her throat. 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter 1, in The Purchase Price:
   • The face which emerged was not reassuring.[…]. He was not a mongol but there was a deficiency of a sort there, and it was not made more pretty by a latter-day hair cut which involved eccentrically long elf-locks and oiled black curls. 1963, Margery Allingham, chapter 17, in The China Governess: A Mystery, London: Chatto & Windus, →OCLC:
   • […]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. 1866, Louisa May Alcott, chapter 7, in Behind A Mask or, A Woman's Power:
   • My hair doesn't have much curl.
2. A curved stroke or shape.
   • […] the backs of their necks and their forelegs are decorated with curls and their necks and bodies are covered with fine, undulating lines. 1995, John Curtis, Julian Reade, Dominique Collon, Art and Empire: Treasures from Assyria in the British Museum, page 184:
3. A spin making the trajectory of an object curve.
   • 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[…] 1909, Harold Horsfall Hilton, The Six Handicap Golfer's Companion, page 38:
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.
   • Now do a curl and an overhead press, keeping your palms facing in. 2007 (Jan/Feb), Jon Crosby, "Your Winter Muscle Makeover", Men's Health, page 54
6. The vector field denoting the rotationality of a given vector field.
   • 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. 1995, Erich Prisner, Graph dynamics:
   • 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).
7. (proper-noun) The vector operator, denoted rm curl; or ⃑∇×⃑(·), that generates this field.
8. (uncountable) Any of various diseases of plants causing the leaves or shoots to curl up; often specifically the potato curl.
   • These potatoes, however, planted the next year, have a fair yield, untouched by the curl. 1840, "Farmers' Department", The Family Magazine, volume 1, page 227:
9. The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the flame.
   • 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. (in-plural) A thin, curved piece of chocolate used as decoration.
12. The concave part of a breaking wave.
    • The main object in surfing is to always remain in the curl. 1966, Bruce Brown, director, The Endless Summer:

Forms

Antonyms

extension

Coordinates

divergence · rotational · gradient

Deriveds

preacher curl · curlless · cheese curl · love curl · trunk curl · curl bar · bicep curl · biceps curl · high-cable curl · reverse curl · curliness · querl · wrist curl · bluecurls · curl grub · executive curl · cable curl · curl-paper · Zottman curl · upcurl · hammer curl · Utah curls · curlicue · leaf curl · becurl · dumbbell curl · blue curls · curl-up · cheat curl · kiss-curl · barbell curl · leg curl · machine curl · spit curl · concentration curl · curls for the girls · scalar curl · jerry curl · kiss curl · curlsome · lipcurl · Jheri curl · curly · pin curl · curlpaper · Jerry curl · curl snake

Synonyms

loop (curved stroke or shape) · curve (curved stroke or shape) · spiral (curved stroke or shape) · ringlet (curving lock of hair) · mul:∇× · curlicue (curved stroke or shape) · flourish (curved stroke or shape)

Translations (219)

it spirale (spin making the trajectory curve) · rmq rotacionalo (mathematics: vector operator) · ary دورة (curved stroke or shape) · he תלתל (curving lock of hair) · he סִלְסוּל (curling: movement) · pl rotacja (mathematics: vector operator) · sd پنن جو ونگ (plant disease) · uk кучер (curving lock of hair) · cmn 卷发 (curving lock of hair) · it rotore (mathematics: vector operator) · gd cam-lùb (curving lock of hair) · es bucle (curving lock of hair) · gd bachal (curving lock of hair) · lad corva (curved stroke or shape) · pt caracol (curving lock of hair) · sd زلف (curving lock of hair) · rif tawinest (curved stroke or shape) · fi pumppaus (weightlifting: type of exercise) · fr curl (weightlifting: type of exercise) · fr moirure (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · gl grifo (curving lock of hair) · pl kędzior (curving lock of hair) · cy crychiad (plant disease) · fi loimukuvio (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · ca rínxol (curving lock of hair) · lad buelta (curved stroke or shape) · es rotacional (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · gl penecho (curving lock of hair) · pl lok (curving lock of hair) · cmn 弯举 (weightlifting: type of exercise) · fr rotationnel (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · rif rreqm n wesɣar (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · es rizado (plant disease) · ga cuach (curving lock of hair) · bg къдри́ца (curving lock of hair) · es comba (spin making the trajectory curve) · gv cassag (curving lock of hair) · ast rotacional (mathematics: vector operator) · sd ڦيرو (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · ary كورل (weightlifting: type of exercise) · gl crecho (curving lock of hair) · sd لڙهڻ (curling: movement) · ru ро́тор (mathematics: vector operator) · rif adewwar (mathematics: vector operator) · gd camalag (curving lock of hair) · it ricciolo (curving lock of hair) · lad rizo (curving lock of hair) · ary تلوية (curling: movement) · no kroll (curving lock of hair) · ru завито́к (curving lock of hair) · gd cuach (curving lock of hair) · ru ло́кон (curving lock of hair) · ar جَعْدَة (curving lock of hair) · ru завито́к (curved stroke or shape) · la flexio (weightlifting: type of exercise) · nrf corle (curving lock of hair) · grc ὄστλιγξ (curving lock of hair) · ba бөҙрә (curving lock of hair) · gd dual (curving lock of hair) · bg ротация (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · fi kihara (curved stroke or shape) · ast rotor (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · es rizo (curving lock of hair) · sv curl (curling: movement) · rif aṭwi n yiɣallen (weightlifting: type of exercise) · rmq rujelo (curving lock of hair) · la curvatura (curved stroke or shape) · pt rotacional (mathematics: vector operator) · fr boucle (curving lock of hair) · la flexus (curved stroke or shape) · es aguas (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · fi kihara (curving lock of hair) · rmq curlo (weightlifting: type of exercise) · sd ٻانهن جو موڙ (weightlifting: type of exercise) · rif tacekkawt (curving lock of hair) · lad buelta (spin making the trajectory curve) · cy cwrl (curved stroke or shape) · fr rotation (curling: movement) · fr courbe (curved stroke or shape) · fi kierre (curling: movement) · nl rotatie (mathematics: vector operator) · la morbus crispans (plant disease) · ota پورچك (curving lock of hair) · it boccolo (curving lock of hair) · es rotacional (mathematics: vector operator) · pt cacho (curving lock of hair) · de Locke (curving lock of hair) · ary إيفي (spin making the trajectory curve) · ca rotacional (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · eo buklo (curving lock of hair) · es rizo (curved stroke or shape) · mt nokkla (curving lock of hair) · fi polte (plant disease) · it riccio (curving lock of hair) · gv keshag (curving lock of hair) · gl respizo (curving lock of hair) · sd ڦيرو (mathematics: vector operator) · ary دوران (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · it rotazione (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · it accartocciamento (plant disease) · cmn 影木纹 (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · rmq chingaripén (curved stroke or shape) · cmn 卷叶病 (plant disease) · fa زلف (curving lock of hair) · ru кудря́шка (curving lock of hair) · fr onde (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · ltg cārta (curving lock of hair) · bg ротор (mathematics: vector operator) · pt rotacional (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · lad fleksión (weightlifting: type of exercise) · ko 곱슬머리 (curving lock of hair) · it rotore (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · rif ṭṭwiya (curved stroke or shape) · ast rotor (mathematics: vector operator) · fi kierre (spin making the trajectory curve) · he סִיבוּב (spin making the trajectory curve) · nl krul (curving lock of hair) · sd ڪاٺ جو نمونو (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · ast rotacional (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · la rotor (mathematics: vector operator) · rif adewwar (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · rmq dikipén (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · rmq ruñipén (plant disease) · gd clann (curving lock of hair) · sv hårlock (curving lock of hair) · ary تجعيد (plant disease) · te కురులు (curving lock of hair) · hu fürt (curving lock of hair) · scn rizzu (curving lock of hair) · rmq rotacionalo (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · ca floc (curving lock of hair) · es abarquillamiento (plant disease) · lad rotacional (mathematics: vector operator) · la cirrus (curving lock of hair) · cy cwrl (curving lock of hair) · he טֶקְסְטוּרַת עֵץ גַּלִּית (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · ca bucle (curving lock of hair) · fr effet (spin making the trajectory curve) · nrf boucl'ye (curving lock of hair) · sd موڙ (curved stroke or shape) · it arricciamento (curved stroke or shape) · ary دوران (mathematics: vector operator) · pl rotacja (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · bg извивка (curved stroke or shape) · cs rotace (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · da lok (curving lock of hair) · lad arrugamiento (plant disease) · lad veta (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · bg бу́кла (curving lock of hair) · ca caragol (curving lock of hair) · rmq bolipén (spin making the trajectory curve) · fr rotationnel (mathematics: vector operator) · gl carrapizo (curving lock of hair) · ary عوجة (curved stroke or shape) · gl rotacional (mathematics: vector operator) · la rotor (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · lad rotacional (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · cmn 弯曲 (curved stroke or shape) · ru завиту́шка (curved stroke or shape) · es rizado (curling: movement) · es flexión (weightlifting: type of exercise) · sd ڦيرو (spin making the trajectory curve) · lad rodamiento (curling: movement) · es efecto (spin making the trajectory curve) · izh kuudra (curving lock of hair) · ary بوكلة (curving lock of hair) · ca rotacional (mathematics: vector operator) · sv lock (curving lock of hair) · io loklo (curving lock of hair) · es veta (music: light and dark figure seen in wood) · sk kučera (curving lock of hair) · no lokk (curving lock of hair) · ja 巻き毛 (curving lock of hair) · he רוֹטוֹר (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · is lokkur (curving lock of hair) · ga coirnín (curving lock of hair) · pdt Kroll (curving lock of hair) · cmn 卷曲运动 (curling: movement) · cs rotace (mathematics: vector operator) · fi roottori (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · cmn 旋度 (mathematics: vector operator) · cmn 旋度 (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · rif aḍewwer (curling: movement) · fr cloque (plant disease) · ota مار (curving lock of hair) · cs kadeř (curving lock of hair) · cs kudrna (curving lock of hair) · lad sekura (plant disease) · rif akmac n yiferrawen (plant disease) · cs kučera (curving lock of hair) · he עִקּוּל (curved stroke or shape) · es curva (curved stroke or shape) · gl bucre (curving lock of hair) · sv rotation (mathematics: vector operator) · rmq bujio (curling: movement) · es espiral (curling: movement) · he רוֹטוֹר (mathematics: vector operator) · sh lokna (curving lock of hair) · cmn 旋转 (spin making the trajectory curve) · ltg sprūga (curving lock of hair) · it voluta (curling: movement) · mi māwhatu (curving lock of hair) · la volutatio (curling: movement) · it rotazione (spin making the trajectory curve) · nl lok (curving lock of hair) · fr flexion (weightlifting: type of exercise) · fi roottori (mathematics: vector operator) · sv skruv (spin making the trajectory curve) · gl frechón (curving lock of hair) · bg сгъване (weightlifting: type of exercise) · la rotatio (spin making the trajectory curve) · gl rotacional (vector field denoting rotationality of a given vector field) · lv cirta (curving lock of hair) · rif l'iffi (spin making the trajectory curve) · fr boucle (curved stroke or shape) · gd camag (curving lock of hair) · gd snìomh (curving lock of hair) · he סִלְסוּל עָלִים (plant disease) · it arricciamento (plant disease)

curl en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /keːl/ Liverpool, fair–fur merger
• /kʌrl/ (Scotland)
• [kʰəːɫ] (Received-Pronunciation)
• /kɜɹl/ (US)
• [kʰɝɫ] (US)
• [kʰʌrɫ] (Scotland)
• [kʰʌɾɫ] (Scotland)
• /kɛːl/ Humberside, Teesside, fair–fur merger
• /kɜːl/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• (US) audio

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”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To cause to move in a curve.
   • 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. 1998, Nick Hornby, Fever Pitch, page 70:
   • 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. 2011 January 12, Saj Chowdhury, “Liverpool 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC:
2. (transitive) To make into a curl or spiral.
   • She curls her spine; she wedges a pillow between her knees. 2004, Jacquelyn Mitchard, Twelve Times Blessed, page 249:
3. (intransitive) To assume the shape of a curl or spiral.
   • It seemed to me that Mr. St. John's under lip protruded, and his upper lip curled a moment. 1847, Charlotte Brontë, chapter XXXI, in Jane Eyre:
4. (intransitive) To move in curves.
   • The ball curled to a stop within six inches of the hole. 2007, John Coyne, The Caddie Who Knew Ben Hogan, page 97:
   • Clouds curled down from the mountains. 1977, Scott O'Dell, Carlota, page 1:
5. (intransitive) To take part in the sport of curling.
   • I curl at my local club every weekend.
6. (transitive) To exercise by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially of the biceps.
   • 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. 2008, Joseph Lee Klapper, The Complete Idiot's Guide to Boosting Your Metabolism, page 119:
7. To twist or form (the hair, etc.) into ringlets.
   • But curl their locks with bodkins and with braids 1576, George Gascoigne, The Steele Glas, Epilogus:
   • 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;[…]. 1977, Agatha Christie, chapter 4, in An Autobiography, part II, London: Collins, →ISBN:
8. To deck with, or as if with, curls; to ornament.
   • Curling with metaphors a plain intention. 1633, George Herbert, Jordan:
   • Thicker than the snakie locks / That curld Megæra. 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:
9. To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple.
   • Seas would be pools without the brushing air / To curl the waves. 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:
10. (qualifier:hat-making) To shape (the brim of a hat) into a curve.

Forms

Antonyms

uncoil (antonym(s) of “to make into a curl or spiral”) · unroll (antonym(s) of “to make into a curl or spiral”) · uncoil (antonym(s) of “to assume the shape of a curl or spiral”) · straighten (antonym(s) of “to make into a curl or spiral”) · unroll (antonym(s) of “to assume the shape of a curl or spiral”) · straighten (antonym(s) of “to assume the shape of a curl or spiral”)

Deriveds

hair-curling · outcurl · curlable · curled · curlingly · make someone's toes curl · noncurling · leaf-curling plum aphid · querl · curling · curling tongs · upcurl · toe-curling · curling iron · curl someone's hair · make someone's hair curl · curl one out · curler · uncurl · leaf-curling spider · curl one off · curl up · hair curling · recurl · make someone's toenails curl

Descendants

kurlowac

Relateds

coil

Synonyms

spiral (to move in curves) · billow (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · roll up (to make into a curl or spiral) · coil (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · roll up (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · coil (to make into a curl or spiral) · curve (to move in curves) · arch (to make into a curl or spiral)

Translations (48)

fi taivuttaa (to make into a curl or spiral) · bg сгъвам (weightlifting: to exercise by bending on the exertion) · fi kihartaa (to make into a curl or spiral) · bg накъдрям се (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · fi käpristää (to make into a curl or spiral) · ru извива́ться (to move in curves) · bg сгъна (weightlifting: to exercise by bending on the exertion) · ru ви́ться (to move in curves) · fi mutkitella (to move in curves) · fi luikerrella (to move in curves) · bg накъдрям (to make into a curl or spiral) · gd snìomh (to make into a curl or spiral) · bg извивам (to cause to move in a curve) · fi kiepauttaa (to cause to move in a curve) · ru вить (to cause to move in a curve) · ota چوركلنمك (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · fi kiertää (to make into a curl or spiral) · sv spela curling (to take part in the sport of curling) · fi kiemurrella (to move in curves) · ota اكمك (to make into a curl or spiral) · bg извивам се (to move in curves) · bg накъдрям се (to raise in waves or undulations) · ru искривля́ть (to cause to move in a curve) · ang crincan (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · fi koristella (to deck with, or as if with, curls) · gl encaracolar (to make into a curl or spiral) · az burmaq (to twist or form into ringlets) · fi pumpata (weightlifting: to exercise by bending on the exertion) · ca caragolar (to make into a curl or spiral) · mi kapukapu (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · fi luikertaa (to move in curves) · fi taivuttaa (to shape the brim of a hat into a curve) · ota بوكمك (to make into a curl or spiral) · fi kurlata (to take part in the sport of curling) · fi mennä rullalle (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · fi aallottaa (to raise in waves or undulations) · bg къдря (to twist or form into ringlets) · fi kihartaa (to twist or form into ringlets) · fi pelata curlingia (to take part in the sport of curling) · grc ἑλίσσω (to make into a curl or spiral) · fi käpristyä (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · fi pyöräyttää (to cause to move in a curve) · pl skręt (weightlifting: to exercise by bending on the exertion) · pt encaracolar (to make into a curl or spiral) · mi takawiriwiri (to twist or form into ringlets) · fi kihartua (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral) · fi rullata (to make into a curl or spiral) · fi rullautua (to assume the shape of a curl or spiral)