/ kɜːl; NAmE kɜːrl/ verb , noun
■ verb
1.
to form or make sth form into a curl or curls :
[ v ]
His hair curls naturally.
[also vn ]
2.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to form or make sth form into a curved shape :
[ v ]
The cat curled into a ball and went to sleep.
[ vn ]
She curled her legs up under her.
3.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to move while forming into a twisted or curved shape; to make sth do this :
[ v ]
The smoke curled steadily upwards.
[ vn ]
He turned and curled the ball around the goalkeeper.
4.
[ v , vn ] if you curl your lip or your lip curls , you move your lip upwards and sideways to show that you think sb/sth is stupid or that you are better than they are
•
IDIOMS
see toe noun
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- curl up | be curled up
- curl up | curl sb up
- curl up | curl sth up
■ noun
1.
[ C ] a small bunch of hair that forms a curved or round shape :
Her hair was a mass of curls.
The baby had dark eyes and dark curls.
2.
[ C , U ] the tendency of hair to form curls :
His hair had a natural curl.
3.
[ C ] a thing that forms a curved or round shape :
a curl of smoke
Decorate the cake with curls of chocolate.
a contemptuous curl of the lip (= an expression showing disapproval)
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from obsolete crulle curly , from Middle Dutch krul .