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Definition of curly

curly

/ˈkɝːli/
cur · ly
Adverb:curlily
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curly Lexical Profile

curly Game Scores & Validity

• adjective

1

Having or growing in curls, spirals, or ringlets, especially with reference to hair.

Example

"The young girl brushed her thick, curly hair before posing for the school portrait."

2

Having a wavy, rippled, or twisted grain in the wood (used of timber such as maple or birch).

Example

"The luthier selected a piece of curly maple for the back of the handcrafted violin."

3

Australian Complex, difficult, or tricky to answer or resolve (informal, also used in New Zealand).

Example

"The journalist asked the minister a curly question about the new budget deficit."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for curly

• Nearby Words

curlicue
curliness
curling
curly
curly-tailed lizard
curmudgeonly
currant

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in Middle English as 'crully' or 'curly' from the noun and verb 'curl' (originally 'crul', of West Germanic origin related to Middle Dutch 'crul') combined with the adjectival suffix '-y'.

Cite this Entry

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