What does "curl" mean?
A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet.
Curl
/kɜɹl/ name, noun, verb
name, noun, verb ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet.
- Grammar: curl is listed as name, noun, verb.
- Nearest alternatives: coil, ringlet, arc, arch.
- Useful contrasts: curl-free field, extend, extension.
- Usage evidence: On colder days, they curl up or dig a hole in the snow.
How to use "curl"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "curl" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "curl" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "curl" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "curl" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "curl" is acting as name, noun, verb in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "coil" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
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Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "curl", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet.
"My hair doesn't have much curl."
- 2 Ellipsis of American Curl. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
"Longhaired curls should have silky coats of medium length."
- 3 lock of hair in the shape of a spiral or curl wordnet
- 4 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."
- 5 a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles (as formed by leaves or flower petals) wordnet
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 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[…]"
- 7 Movement of a moving rock away from a straight line.
- 8 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."
- 9 The vector field denoting the rotationality of a given vector field.
"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)."
- 10 The vector operator, denoted rm curl; or ⃑∇×⃑(·), that generates this field. proper-noun
- 11 Any of various diseases of plants causing the leaves or shoots to curl up; often specifically the potato curl. uncountable
"These potatoes, however, planted the next year, have a fair yield, untouched by the curl."
- 12 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."
- 13 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.
- 14 A thin, curved piece of chocolate used as decoration. in-plural
- 15 The concave part of a breaking wave.
"The main object in surfing is to always remain in the curl."
Verb
- 1 To cause to move in a curve. transitive
"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."
- 2 form a curl, curve, or kink wordnet
- 3 To make into a curl or spiral. transitive
"She curls her spine; she wedges a pillow between her knees."
- 4 play the Scottish game of curling wordnet
- 5 To assume the shape of a curl or spiral. intransitive
"It seemed to me that Mr. St. John's under lip protruded, and his upper lip curled a moment."
Show 10 more definitions
- 6 twist or roll into coils or ringlets wordnet
- 7 To move in curves. intransitive
"Clouds curled down from the mountains."
- 8 wind around something in coils or loops wordnet
- 9 To take part in the sport of curling. intransitive
"I curl at my local club every weekend."
- 10 shape one's body into a curl wordnet
- 11 To exercise by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially of the biceps. transitive
"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."
- 12 To twist or form (the hair, etc.) into ringlets.
"But curl their locks with bodkins and with braids"
- 13 To deck with, or as if with, curls; to ornament.
"Thicker than the snakie locks / That curld Megæra."
- 14 To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple.
"Seas would be pools without the brushing air / To curl the waves."
- 15 To shape (the brim of a hat) into a curve.
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"On colder days, they curl up or dig a hole in the snow."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "curl"?
Common synonyms include: coil, ringlet, arc, arch, arched, arm curl.
How do you use "curl" in a sentence?
On colder days, they curl up or dig a hole in the snow.
How do you pronounce "curl"?
Pronounced /kɜɹl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
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”).
Etymology 2
* As an English surname, from the noun curl. * As a German surname, variant of Kerl.