26984 words

curl

9 definitions • 15 examples
1
a piece of hair that grows or has been formed into a curving shape, or something that is the same shape as this:

Examples:

in curls Her hair fell in curls over her shoulders.
Curls of smoke were rising from the chimney.
2
the curved shape in which a ball moves when it is hit or kicked in a particular way:

Examples:

The curl on the shot sent it looping around the keeper into the far corner of the net.
3
an exercise using weights in which you move your arm or leg from straight to bent and back:

Examples:

bicep curl She uses 5-pound weights for bicep curls.
Twice a week, do both leg extensions and leg curls on a weight machine.
4
to make something into the shape of a curl, or to grow or change into this shape:

Examples:

curl naturally Does your hair curl naturally, or is it permed?
curl something around something A new baby will automatically curl its fingers around any object it touches.
5
to make a ball move in a curved shape by hitting or kicking it in a particular way or of a ball, to move in this way:

Examples:

He curled the ball into the top right hand corner.
Peterson's free-kick curled just wide.
6
to show by an upward movement of one side of your mouth that you feel no respect for something or someone:

Examples:

Her lip curled at what he said.
7
to play the sport of curling (= a game played on ice in which stones are slid towards a target):

Examples:

"Learn to curl" sessions teach you the basics of curling.
8
a piece of hair having a curving shape, like part of a circle, or something else having a circular shape:

Examples:

[ C ] He loved that dark curl at the back of her neck.
[ C ] We watched the curls of smoke rise from his pipe.
9
to form or cause something to form a curving or twisted shape:

Examples:

[ T ] If I don’t curl my hair, it looks too stringy.

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