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Definition of curlicue

curlicue

/ˈkɝːlɪkjuː/
cur · li · cue
Plural:curlicues
•
Adjective:curlicued
•
Past Simple:curlicued
•
Past Participle:curlicued
•
Present Participle:curlicuing
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curlicue Lexical Profile

curlicue Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A decorative curl, twist, or spiral, especially in calligraphy, drawing, or ornamental design.

Example

"The calligrapher embellished the wedding invitations with elaborate gold curlicues."

Synonyms
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• verb

1

To form, draw, or decorate with fanciful curls, twists, or spirals.

Example

"Thin wisps of woodsmoke curlicued lazily toward the rafters."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
View all antonyms for curlicue

• Nearby Words

curl
curler
curlew
curlicue
curliness
curling
curly

Word Origin & Etymology

Coined in the mid-19th century in American English as a fanciful combination of 'curly' and either 'cue' (meaning a pigtail or braid, from French 'queue') or the letter 'Q' (which has a curled tail).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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