curly \ˈkərlē, -ə̄l-, -əil-, -li\adjective (-er/-est) Etymology:curl (II) + -y 1.: curling or tending to curl : having curls : full of ripples : crinkled 2. a.of the grain of wood: having fibers that curve in and out without crossing and often form alternating light and dark lines < curly maple > b.: having such grain 3.: having a tilde