# curly

/ˈkɝɫi/ (US) · /kˈɜːli/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. hair or fur

adjective · CEFR A2

having a curved or spiral shape rather than being straight.

For teachers: having curls or a spiral form; typically used to describe hair, fur, or fibers.

- She has beautiful curly hair that is difficult to brush in the morning.
- The breed is known for its thick, curly coat which provides excellent insulation against the cold mountain air.

### 2. curved symbols

adjective · CEFR B2

describes punctuation marks that curve, like 'smart' quotes.

For teachers: referring to curved versions of punctuation marks, specifically quotation marks and apostrophes, as opposed to straight ones.

- The word processor automatically changed my straight quotes into curly ones.
- The graphic designer insisted on using curly quotes to give the typography a more professional and polished appearance.

### 3. difficult

adjective · CEFR C1 · Dialect · American English · British English

tricky or complicated to solve.

For teachers: describing a problem or situation that is particularly knotty, complicated, or difficult to resolve.

- That was a curly question that the teacher asked us during the exam.
- The negotiator faced a curly situation when both parties refused to compromise on the initial terms of the contract.

Usage: Often used in the phrase 'a curly one' to refer to a difficult question.

Teaching tip: This sense is more common in Australian and British English than in American English.

### 4. a nickname

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

a name for someone with curly hair, or sometimes a joke name for a bald person.

For teachers: a nickname for a person with curly hair; occasionally used ironically or humorously to refer to a bald individual.

- Everyone in the village calls him Curly because of his thick ringlets.
- In a classic display of dry humor, the group nicknamed their bald friend Curly.

## Examples

- She has beautiful curly hair.
- The little girl has bright red curly hair that bounces when she runs.
- The old map was so dry that its edges had become curly and brittle, making it difficult to lay flat on the table.

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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.