# curl

/ˈkɝɫ/ (US) · /kˈɜːl/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/curl
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. hair

noun · CEFR B1

a piece of hair that grows in a curved or spiral shape.

For teachers: a lock of hair that forms a ringlet or spiral shape.

- She used a special cream to keep every curl in place during the humid weather.
- The child's natural curls were so tight that they appeared much shorter than they actually were when pulled straight.

### 2. curved shape

noun · CEFR B2

something that has a curved or spiral shape, like a piece of smoke or wood.

For teachers: a curved stroke, shape, or spiral formation of a substance or object.

- A thin curl of smoke rose from the chimney into the cold winter air.
- The carpenter carefully removed a long curl of wood from the plank with his hand plane.

### 3. exercise

noun · CEFR B2

a gym exercise where you bend your arm or leg against weight.

For teachers: a weight-training exercise involving the flexion of a joint against resistance, typically targeting the biceps.

- He finished his workout with three sets of bicep curls.
- The trainer emphasized that performing a curl with proper form is more effective than using a heavier weight with momentum.

### 4. to form a spiral

verb · CEFR B1

to twist something into a curved or spiral shape.

For teachers: to form or cause to form into a curve or spiral.

- The cat likes to curl its tail around its body when it sleeps.
- The edges of the old photograph had begun to curl upward after years of being stored in a damp basement.

### 5. to move in a curve

verb · CEFR B2

to move in a path that is not straight.

For teachers: to move in a curved or spiraling trajectory.

- The ball started to curl to the left as it flew toward the goal.
- The road began to curl around the base of the mountain, offering spectacular views of the valley below.

## Examples

- She has tight curls in her hair.
- The gardener used a metal curl to hold the climbing rose against the wall.
- The artist studied the way light caught the tight curls of the subject's hair, rendering each spiral with precise, delicate strokes.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.