- curl
- [[t]kɜ͟ː(r)l[/t]]
curls, curling, curled1) N-COUNT If you have curls, your hair is in the form of tight curves and spirals.
...the little girl with blonde curls...
A curl of black hair fell loosely across his forehead.
2) N-UNCOUNT If your hair has curl, it is full of curls.Dry curly hair naturally for maximum curl and shine.
3) V-ERG If your hair curls or if you curl it, it is full of curls.She has hair that refuses to curl...
[V n] Maria had curled her hair for the event...
[V-ed] Afro hair is short and tightly curled.
4) N-COUNT: usu with supp, oft N of n A curl of something is a piece or quantity of it that is curved or spiral in shape.A thin curl of smoke rose from a rusty stove.
...curls of lemon peel.
5) V-ERG If your toes, fingers, or other parts of your body curl, or if you curl them, they form a curved or round shape.[V prep/adv] His fingers curled gently round her wrist...
[V n] Raise one foot, curl the toes and point the foot downwards...
[V-ed] She sat with her legs curled under her. [Also V, V n prep/adv]
Syn:6) V-ERG If something curls somewhere, or if you curl it there, it moves there in a spiral or curve.[V prep/adv] Smoke was curling up the chimney...
[V n prep/adv] He curled the ball into the net.
7) VERB If a person or animal curls into a ball, they move into a position in which their body makes a rounded shape.[V into n] He wanted to curl into a tiny ball...
[V-ed] The kitten was curled on a cushion on the sofa.
Curl up means the same as curl.V P into n
In colder weather, your cat will curl up into a tight, heat-conserving ball... V P She curled up next to him... V-ed P He was asleep there, curled up in the fetal position.8) VERB When a leaf, a piece of paper, or another flat object curls, its edges bend towards the centre.The rose leaves have curled because of an attack by grubs.
9) V-ERG If you curl your lip, you raise your upper lip slightly at one side, as a way of showing anger or contempt.[V n] He curled his upper lip in a show of scepticism...
She had a small, mean mouth that curled disapprovingly each time her husband wrote something in his diary.
Phrasal Verbs:- curl up
English dictionary. 2008.
