—v.
1 tr. & intr. (often foll. by up) bend or coil into a spiral; form or cause to form curls.
2 intr. move in a spiral form (smoke curling upwards).
3 a intr. (of the upper lip) be raised slightly on one side as an expression of contempt or disapproval. b tr. cause (the lip) to do this.
4 intr. play curling.
—n.
1 a lock of curled hair.
2 anything spiral or curved inwards.
3 a a curling movement or act. b the state of being curled.
4 a disease of plants in which the leaves are curled up.
Phrases and idioms:
curl up
1 lie or sit with the knees drawn up.
2 colloq. writhe with embarrassment or horror. make a person's hair curl colloq. shock or horrify a person. out of curl lacking energy.
Etymology: ME; earliest form crolled, crulled f. obs. adj. crolle, crulle curly f. MDu. krul
Useful english dictionary. 2012.