verb

curl

to twist into a spiral shape, to form a curve, to sit or lie in a coiled position

She curled her hair for the party.

She curled her hair for the party.

The cat curled up on the sofa.

The cat curled up on the sofa.

((sth.)) to twist (sth.) into a spiral shape She curled her hair for the party.

((up)) to lie or sit in a rounded shape The cat curled up on the sofa.

Synonyms: twist, coil, wind; Antonyms: straighten

From Middle English 'crullen', possibly related to Dutch 'krul' (a curl).

Imagine a curling iron twisting hair into a C-shape for 'curl'.

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