curl

verb

/kɜːl/

/kɜːrl/

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they curl	/kɜːl/ /kɜːrl/
he / she / it curls	/kɜːlz/ /kɜːrlz/
past simple curled	/kɜːld/ /kɜːrld/
past participle curled	/kɜːld/ /kɜːrld/
-ing form curling	/ˈkɜːlɪŋ/ /ˈkɜːrlɪŋ/

Idioms Phrasal Verbs

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[intransitive, transitive] curl (something) to form or make something form into a curl or curls
- His hair curls naturally.
Topics Appearancec1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- tightly
- slightly
- back
- …
preposition
- around
- round
- from
- …
phrases
- curled up
- curl (up) at the edges
See full entry
[intransitive, transitive] to form or make something form into a curved shape
- (+ adv./prep.) The cat curled into a ball and went to sleep.
- curl something (+ adv./prep.) She curled her legs up under her.
Extra Examples
- The photograph was brown and curling at the edges.
- His fingers curled tightly around the steering wheel.
Topics Colours and Shapesc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- tightly
- slightly
- back
- …
preposition
- around
- round
- from
- …
phrases
- curled up
- curl (up) at the edges
See full entry
[intransitive, transitive] to move while forming into a twisted or curved shape; to make something do this
- (+ adv./prep.) The smoke curled steadily upwards.
- The honeysuckle curled around the trunk of the apple tree.
- Smoke was curling up from the chimney.
- curl something (+ adv./prep.) He turned and curled the ball around the goalkeeper.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- tightly
- slightly
- back
- …
preposition
- around
- round
- from
- …
phrases
- curled up
- curl (up) at the edges
See full entry
[transitive, intransitive] curl (something) if you curl your lip or your lip curls, you move your lip upwards and to the side to show that you think somebody/something is stupid or that you are better than they are

Word Originlate Middle English: from obsolete crulle ‘curly’, from Middle Dutch krul.

Idioms

make somebody’s toes curl

to make somebody feel embarrassed or uncomfortable
- The man's broad smile made her toes curl.
see also toe-curlingTopics Feelingsc2

curl

noun

/kɜːl/

/kɜːrl/

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[countable] 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.
Extra Examples
- He carefully teased his curls into place.
- Her auburn curls tumbled about her face.
- Her face was framed by a mop of black curls.
- Her hair was styled into a cascade of spiral curls.
- His hair spilled in curls over his forehead.
- She has beautiful blonde curls.
- She pushed a stray curl away from her eyes.
- She raked a comb through her curls.
- She shook her dark curls sadly.
- She smoothed down her tangled curls.
Topics Appearancec1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- natural
- loose
- soft
- …
verb + curl
- have
- press back
- push back
- …
curl + verb
- fall
- tumble
- hang
- …
preposition
- in curls
- through the/your curls
phrases
- a cascade of curls
- a mass of curls
- a mop of curls
- …
See full entry
[countable, uncountable] the way that somebody's hair tends to form curved or round shapes
- His hair had a natural curl.
Extra Examples
- His hair had a slight curl to it.
- Her hair lost its curl as she got older.
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- natural
- loose
- soft
- …
verb + curl
- have
- press back
- push back
- …
curl + verb
- fall
- tumble
- hang
- …
preposition
- in curls
- through the/your curls
phrases
- a cascade of curls
- a mass of curls
- a mop of curls
- …
See full entry
[countable] 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)
Topics Colours and Shapesc1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- faint
preposition
- curl of
See full entry

Word Originlate Middle English: from obsolete crulle ‘curly’, from Middle Dutch krul.