Hypertext Webster Gateway: "curl"

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Curl \Curl\, v. i.
1. To contract or bend into curls or ringlets, as hair; to
grow in curls or spirals, as a vine; to be crinkled or
contorted; to have a curly appearance; as, leaves lie
curled on the ground.

Thou seest it [hair] will not curl by nature.
--Shak.

2. To move in curves, spirals, or undulations; to contract in
curving outlines; to bend in a curved form; to make a curl
or curls. ``Cirling billows.'' --Dryden.

Then round her slender waist he curled. --Dryden.

Curling smokes from village tops are seen. --Pope.

Gayly curl the waves before each dashing prow.
--Byron.

He smiled a king of sickly smile, and curled up on
the floor. --Bret Harte.

3. To play at the game called curling. [Scot.]

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Curl \Curl\ (k[^u]rl), v. t. [imp. & p. p. {Curled} (k[^u]rld);
p. pr. & vb. n. {Curling}.] [Akin to D. krullen, Dan.
kr["o]lle, dial. Sw. krulla to curl, crisp; possibly akin to
E. crook. Cf. {Curl}, n., {Cruller}.]
1. To twist or form into ringlets; to crisp, as the hair.

But curl their locks with bodkins and with braid.
--Cascoigne.

2. To twist or make onto coils, as a serpent's body.

Of his tortuous train, Curled many a wanton wreath
in sight of Eve. --Milton.

3. To deck with, or as with, curls; to ornament.

Thicker than the snaky locks That curledMeg[ae]ra.
--Milton.

Curling with metaphors a plain intention. --Herbert.

4. To raise in waves or undulations; to ripple.

Seas would be pools without the brushing air To curl
the waves. --Dryden.

5. (Hat Making) To shape (the brim) into a curve.

From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) (web1913)

Curl \Curl\ (k[^u]rl), n. [Akin to D. krul, Dan. kr["o]lle. See
{Curl}, v. ]
1. A ringlet, especially of hair; anything of a spiral or
winding form.

Under a coronet, his flowing hair In curls on either
cheek played. --Milton.

2. An undulating or waving line or streak in any substance,
as wood, glass, etc.; flexure; sinuosity.

If the glass of the prisms . . . be without those
numberless waves or curls which usually arise from
the sand holes. --Sir I.
Newton.

3. A disease in potatoes, in which the leaves, at their first
appearance, seem curled and shrunken.

{Blue curls}. (Bot.) See under {Blue}.

From WordNet (r) 1.7 (wn)

curl
n 1: a round shape formed by a series of concentric circles [syn:
{coil}, {whorl}, {roll}, {curlicue}, {ringlet}, {gyre},
{scroll}]
2: a strand or cluster of hair [syn: {lock}, {ringlet}, {whorl}]
v 1: form a curl, curve, or kink; "the cigar smoke curled up at
the ceiling"; "The road curved" [syn: {curve}, {kink}]
2: shape one's body into a curl; "She curled farther down under
the covers"; "She fell and drew in" [syn: {curl up}, {draw
in}]
3: wind around something in coils or loops [syn: {coil}, {loop}]
[ant: {uncoil}]
4: twist or roll into coils or ringlets; "curl my hair, please"
[syn: {wave}]
5: play the Scottish game of curling


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