mar·cel I. \(ˈ)mär|sel, (ˈ)mȧ|s-\noun ormarcel wave (-s) Etymology: after Marcel Grateau died 1936 French hairdresser : a deep soft wave or series of such waves made in the hair by the use of a heated curling iron II. verb (marcelled ; marcelled ; marcelling ; marcels) transitive verb : to make a marcel in < regularly marcelled her hair > intransitive verb : to make a marcel < skilled at marcelling >