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Definition of curdle

curdle

/ˈkɜːr.dəl/
cur · dle
Adjective:curdled
•
Past Simple:curdled
•
Past Participle:curdled
•
Present Participle:curdling
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curdle Lexical Profile

curdle Game Scores & Validity

• verb

1

To separate or cause to separate into curds or lumps (especially of milk or a dairy-based liquid).

Example

"Adding lemon juice directly to the hot cream will cause the sauce to curdle."

2

To spoil, sour, or turn unpleasant (of an emotion, mood, or relationship); figuratively, to cause someone's blood to freeze with horror or fear.

Example

"A sudden, piercing shriek from the abandoned house made his blood curdle."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for curdle

• Nearby Words

curbside
curbstone
curd
curdle
cure
curfew
curio

Word Origin & Etymology

Originating in the 16th century as a frequentative derivative of the noun 'curd', which comes from Middle English 'crudde' (of uncertain, possibly Celtic origin).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Curdle. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/curdle
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