curlicue
1 of 2noun
cur·li·cue ˈkər-lē-ˌkyü 
-li-
variants or less commonly curlycue
: a fancifully curved or spiral figure : flourish
curlicue
2 of 2verb
curlicued; curlicuing
intransitive verb
: to form curlicues
transitive verb
: to embellish with curlicues
Example Sentences
Noun Curlicues were carved into the wood.
Recent Examples on the Web
Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 16 June 2022 Start with little circles, scattered across every point in space and time—a curlicue dimension, looped back onto itself. Adam Becker, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2022 Murillo had colorful curlicue metal silhouettes of trees installed all over Managua to channel positive energy from the skies. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New York Review of Books, 22 July 2021 As provided by nature, the original Kissimmee River was a curlicue of currents 103 miles long. Kevin Spear, orlandosentinel.com, 30 July 2021 In the gallery, viewers encounter a defunct pay phone replicated from fragments of wood and a decorative metal curlicue. Danielle Avram, Dallas News, 7 Apr. 2021 But the only piece of aluminum on the 1971 lemon pig is its curlicue tail. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 31 Dec. 2020 All three drinks are topped with a splash of Topo Chico and served in disposable cups rimmed with Chamoy and chile along with a fruity garnish and playful curlicue straw. Paul Stephen, ExpressNews.com, 29 Dec. 2020 For all the book’s Hunter S. Thompson curlicues, the essential information is communicated. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2020 See More
Noun
Fayette Station Road will give you an up-close view of the bridge and driving the curlicue roads with hairpin turns is an experience like no other. Wendy Altschuler, Forbes, 16 June 2022 Start with little circles, scattered across every point in space and time—a curlicue dimension, looped back onto itself. Adam Becker, Scientific American, 20 Jan. 2022 Murillo had colorful curlicue metal silhouettes of trees installed all over Managua to channel positive energy from the skies. Alma Guillermoprieto, The New York Review of Books, 22 July 2021 As provided by nature, the original Kissimmee River was a curlicue of currents 103 miles long. Kevin Spear, orlandosentinel.com, 30 July 2021 In the gallery, viewers encounter a defunct pay phone replicated from fragments of wood and a decorative metal curlicue. Danielle Avram, Dallas News, 7 Apr. 2021 But the only piece of aluminum on the 1971 lemon pig is its curlicue tail. Scottie Andrew, CNN, 31 Dec. 2020 All three drinks are topped with a splash of Topo Chico and served in disposable cups rimmed with Chamoy and chile along with a fruity garnish and playful curlicue straw. Paul Stephen, ExpressNews.com, 29 Dec. 2020 For all the book’s Hunter S. Thompson curlicues, the essential information is communicated. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
curly + cue a braid of hair
First Known Use
Noun
1843, in the meaning defined above
Verb
1844, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Kids Definition
curlicue
noun
cur·li·cue ˈkər-li-ˌkyü
: a fancy shape having curves in it
curlicuing
verb
as in falling off
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- falling off
- curling
- looping
- coiling
- circling
- spiraling
- sweeping
- bowing
- arcing
- spiralling
- bending
- curving
- swerving
- rounding
- arching
- winding
- trending
- hooking
- turning
- wheeling
- deviating
- crooking
- twisting
- veering
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- straightening
- cannon
- cannon bit
- cannon bone
- cannon cracker
- cannon curl
- cannon fodder
- cannon metal
- cannon net
- cannon pinion
- cannon stove
- cannon-shot
- cannonade
- cannonaded
- cannonades
- cannonading
- cannonball
- cannonball jellyfish
- cannonball tree
- cannonballed
- cannonballing
- cannonballs
- cannoned
- cannoneer
- cannoneers
- cannonfodders