Words / B2

KURL/kɜːl/

To curl is to form into a curved or spiral shape; as a noun, a lock of hair in that shape, or that movement: curl up; smoke curled. Coil is a close twin for loops of wire; wave is a gentler hair twin. Smoke curled in the fire-test photograph; still name the material. Mix-up: curl vs curd; hurl; do not write curl for a hair advert with no named material or test.

Meaning

To form into a curved or spiral shape; as a noun, a lock of hair in that shape, or that movement.

Examples

• “Smoke curled in the fire-test photograph; still name the material, not a hair advert.”
• “A curl of the lip featured in the character note, which is the literature sense — still quote the line.”

Good to know

curl up; a curl of hair / smoke / the lip; curly. Close: coil / wave. Trap: curd / hurl. Science, PE, and literature. Form a spiral, or a lock of curved hair — specify.

Near in meaning

coil, spiral, wave

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