Join free

Curl

AI In plain words

Writing a short explanation…

Written by a house AI from the entry below, in your language. The entry itself is the source.

curl¹

  • /kɜːl/ UK
  • [kʰəːɫ] UK
  • /kɜɹl/ US
  • [kʰɝɫ] US
  • /kʌrl/ Scotland
  • [kʰʌrɫ] Scotland
  • [kʰʌɾɫ] Scotland
  • /keːl/
  • /kɛːl/

Rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)l

Where it comes from

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”).

noun curls

  1. A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet. My hair doesn't have much curl.
  2. 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.
  3. 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[…]
  4. Movement of a moving rock away from a straight line.
  5. 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.
  6. 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
  7. proper noun The vector operator, denoted rm curl; or ⃑∇×⃑(·), that generates this field.
  8. uncountable Any of various diseases of plants causing the leaves or shoots to curl up; often specifically the potato curl. These potatoes, however, planted the next year, have a fair yield, untouched by the curl.
  9. 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.
  10. 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.
  11. in plural A thin, curved piece of chocolate used as decoration.
  12. The concave part of a breaking wave. The main object in surfing is to always remain in the curl.

verb curls · curling · curled

  1. transitive To cause to move in a curve. 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. transitive To make into a curl or spiral. She curls her spine; she wedges a pillow between her knees.
  3. intransitive To assume the shape of a curl or spiral. It seemed to me that Mr. St. John's under lip protruded, and his upper lip curled a moment.
  4. intransitive To move in curves. Clouds curled down from the mountains.
  5. intransitive To take part in the sport of curling. I curl at my local club every weekend.
  6. transitive To exercise by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially of the biceps. 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.
  7. To twist or form (the hair, etc.) into ringlets. But curl their locks with bodkins and with braids
  8. To deck with, or as if with, curls; to ornament. Thicker than the snakie locks / That curld Megæra.
  9. To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple. Seas would be pools without the brushing air / To curl the waves.
  10. To shape (the brim of a hat) into a curve.

Curl²

Where it comes from

* As an English surname, from the noun curl.

* As a German surname, variant of Kerl.

proper noun

  1. A surname.

noun Curls

  1. abbreviation, ellipsis Ellipsis of American Curl.American Curl Longhaired curls should have silky coats of medium length.

Talk about this word