curl
curl Lexical Profile
curl Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A lock of hair that grows or has been styled into a spiral, ringlet, or curved shape.
"A stray curl fell across her forehead as she leaned over the desk to read the manuscript."
Something in the shape of a spiral, coil, or curve, such as a wisp of smoke or a wood shaving.
"A thin curl of blue smoke rose steadily from the cottage chimney into the crisp morning air."
A weightlifting exercise in which a weight is raised by flexing a joint, especially the elbow or knee.
"The physical therapist recommended light bicep curls to rebuild strength in his injured arm."
A vector operator in vector calculus that describes the infinitesimal circulation or rotation of a three-dimensional vector field.
"In fluid dynamics, the curl of the velocity field represents the local vorticity of the fluid."
• verb
To form or cause to form into a curved, coiled, or spiral shape.
"The autumn leaves began to dry and curl at the edges after the first frost."
To draw one's body, limbs, or posture into a compact, rounded position for warmth or comfort.
"The cat curled into a tight ball on the sunlit armchair and went to sleep."
To move or rise in a curving or spiral path (especially of smoke, mist, or water).
"Morning mist curled slowly over the surface of the quiet lake."
To lift a weight by bending the wrist, elbow, or knee.
"He can easily curl fifty-pound dumbbells during his strength-training routine."
• Rhymes for curl
Word Origin & Etymology
From Middle English crulle ('curly'), obtained via metathesis from Middle Dutch krul ('curly, spiral-shaped'), ultimately from a West Germanic root meaning 'bent' or 'twisted'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.