noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

curl

kurl

Curl (noun) means a spiral or ring-shaped lock of hair. Example: “Her hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders.”

noun

A spiral or ring-shaped lock of hair.

"Her hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders."

An exercise where the arm is bent against resistance to work the biceps.

"He did three sets of bicep curls at the gym."

verb

To twist something into a spiral shape, or to naturally form one.

"Smoke curled up from the chimney."

"She curled her hair before the party."

How to use curl

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTo twist into a spiral shape, or a spiral shape itself — as in hair, smoke, or a gym exercise.

Common pairings

curl your hair bicep curl curl up

Word forms

curled past tense, curls plural, curls singular

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Can you complete this real example?

Her hair fell in loose _____ around her shoulders.

Etymology

From an older Middle English word meaning "curled" or "curly," likely related to a Middle Dutch word for "curl."

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

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roll wave lock loop curve scroll coil kink gyre whorl ringlet curl up

Antonyms

extension straighten uncoil unroll

Related words

line close list range hair completely wind reference

Rhymes for curl

URL hurl

See all rhymes for curl →

Frequently asked questions

What does “curl” mean?

The word “curl” means a spiral or ring-shaped lock of hair. In plain terms, to twist into a spiral shape, or a spiral shape itself — as in hair, smoke, or a gym exercise.

How do you pronounce “curl”?

“Curl” is pronounced kurl (/kɜɹl/ in IPA).

How do you use “curl” in a sentence?

Here is “curl” used in a sentence: “Her hair fell in loose curls around her shoulders.”

What is the opposite of “curl”?

The opposite of “curl” — its antonyms — are extension, straighten, uncoil and unroll.

What part of speech is “curl”?

Depending on how it is used, “curl” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “curl” come from?

The word “curl” comes from Middle English. From an older Middle English word meaning "curled" or "curly," likely related to a Middle Dutch word for "curl.".

Is “curl” a common word?

“Curl” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “curl” have?

“Curl” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a spiral or ring-shaped lock of hair.

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