Curl

Part of speech: verb, noun

Pronunciation: /kɜːl/

Definitions

1. To twist or coil into a spiral shape ; a ringlet or lock of hair that bends naturally ; to bend or move in a curved or spiral form ; an exercise where the arm is bent to lift weight typically with a dumbbell or barbell
2. To wind something into loops or spirals ; hair that forms a rounded, looping shape ; to move with a rounded or bending motion ; a common strength workout targeting the bending of the elbow
3. To shape or twist into a curved or looped form ; a lock of hair that naturally loops or spirals ; to bend or turn in a curved pattern ; a physical action to flex the arm muscles by lifting weights

Etymology: The verb "curl" is a metathesis, meaning a swap of sounds, of the older Middle English "crulle," which meant "curled" or "curly." Over time the r and the l traded places, and the spelling and sound settled into the form we use today. The Middle English word itself is of uncertain origin, but it probably descends from a Middle Dutch word "crul" or "crulle," which in turn traces back to a Proto-Germanic root meaning a bent or crooked object. That ancient root hints at the word's core image: something twisted back on itself. Its relatives across the Germanic languages carry the same idea. Dutch "krul," West Frisian "krul," German dialect "Krolle," and Danish "krølle" all mean a curl or lock of hair, and German "kraus" means frizzy or crumpled. Swedish "krusa" means to crimp or curl, and the Gothic verb "kriustan" meant to grind or crush, a sense that shows how closely the idea of crooking and crumpling were linked.

Synonyms: coil, twist, spiral, wave, loop

Antonyms: straighten, uncoil, extend, flatten, smooth