curl

I UK [kɜː(r)l] / US [kɜrl] verb
Word forms "curl":
present tense I/you/we/they curl he/she/it curls present participle curling past tense curled past participle curled
**

1) curl or curl up

[intransitive/transitive] to form a curved or round shape, or give something this shape

Jane had short hair curling around her face.

As she talked, she curled a strand of hair on one finger.

Sam's hands curled up into fists.

2) [intransitive] to move in a curving or twisting way

Smoke curled from tall chimneys.

3) [intransitive] to curve upwards or downwards at the edges

The pages had begun to turn yellow and curl.

•

curl your hair/make your hair curl — to make you feel very upset or frightened

He tells stories about prison life that would make your hair curl.

- curl your lip

Phrasal verbs:

- curl up

See:

toe I

II UK [kɜː(r)l] / US [kɜrl] noun
Word forms "curl":
singular curl plural curls
*

1)

a) [countable, usually plural] a section of hair that grows or is shaped in a curve

blond/dark/brown curls

b) [singular/uncountable] the way that someone's hair grows in curls

The heat takes all the curl out of your hair.

2) [countable] something long and thin that has a curved or circular shape

curl of:

a curl of smoke/ribbon

3) [countable] an exercise in which you lift a weight by bending your lower arms or legs upwards

•

- a curl of your lip