curled
[kˈɚld] /ˈkər(-ə)l How to pronounce curl (audio)/ (ame, mw) · /kɜːl/ (bre, ipa) · [kˈɚld] /kɝːl/ (ame, ipa)
curled — noun
1. a strand bent into a rounded ring, or another small object that has a similar wi
a strand bent into a rounded ring, or another small object that has a similar winding shape.
A black curl fell across Nia's forehead during the school play.
a curl fell across [body part]
The kitten batted a loose curl of ribbon under the sofa.
a curl of + material
After the shower, one wet curl rested on Asher's cheek.
A curl of wood peeled away as the carpenter planed the chair leg.
- straight strand
a piece of hair or material with no bend in it
文法句型
a curl of + noun
[adj] curl
用法筆記
Most often used for a strand of hair. With ribbon, wood, smoke, or paper, it names a small bent piece that takes the same winding shape.
2. the bending path a ball takes after being kicked or hit so that it turns through
the bending path a ball takes after being kicked or hit so that it turns through the air instead of traveling straight.
Ryo admired the curl on Mei's free kick from outside the box.
curl on a free kick
The shot had so much curl that it bent around the wall.
so much curl that
Commentators praised the curl on the corner as it dropped near goal.
A little more curl would have carried the ball inside the post.
- straight flight
a path with little or no sideways turn
文法句型
curl on + kick/shot
add/put curl on + ball
用法筆記
Used in sports where players talk about the flight of a ball, especially football and golf. It names the movement, not the kick itself.
3. the act of bending something into rings or curves, or the condition of already b
the act of bending something into rings or curves, or the condition of already being bent that way.
The heat ruined the curl of the posters taped to the window.
the curl of + noun
Farah liked the soft curl of the pastry edges after baking.
Humidity brought back the curl in Omar's hair by noon.
The scarf lost its curl after a heavy stack of books flattened it.
- flatness
the absence of bend or lift
文法句型
the curl of + noun
curl in + noun
用法筆記
Unlike sense 1, this sense talks about curl as a quality or condition, not as one separate curled piece.
4. a swirling figure that appears naturally inside some kinds of wood.
a swirling figure that appears naturally inside some kinds of wood.
The table's maple surface showed a pale curl near one corner.
curl in wood grain
Buyers paid extra for walnut boards with a strong curl.
wood with a strong curl
Under the lamp, the guitar back revealed a bright curl.
The cabinet maker chose oak with less curl for the shelves.
- figure
a broader woodworking term for interesting grain patterns of many kinds
- grain pattern
general and less specific about the swirling shape
文法句型
curl in + wood
[adj] curl
用法筆記
Used mainly in woodworking to describe the pattern inside the wood, not a piece that has physically been bent.
5. a hollow curved space in a breaking wave when the top folds forward.
a hollow curved space in a breaking wave when the top folds forward.
The surfer disappeared inside the curl just before the wave closed.
inside the curl
Spray flashed off the curl as the set rolled toward shore.
From the cliff, we could see each curl breaking over the reef.
The coach told Lani to paddle sooner and enter the curl early.
文法句型
inside the curl
enter the curl
用法筆記
This surfing sense refers to the hollow, bending part of a wave. It is not used for ordinary ripples or calm water.
6. a short American football route where the receiver drives forward, then turns ba
a short American football route where the receiver drives forward, then turns back toward the quarterback for a pass.
The receiver sold the deep move, then snapped into a curl.
snap into a curl
Coach Rivera called a curl on third and short near midfield.
call a curl
The slot player caught the curl and stepped out for six yards.
Film study showed the defense jumping every short curl route.
- hook route
closely related, though some coaches distinguish a deeper or sharper stop
文法句型
run a curl
call a curl
curl route
用法筆記
Specific to American football play design. It names the route pattern, not the throw or the catch.
7. an exercise where you raise and lower a weight by bending only your wrist or elb
an exercise where you raise and lower a weight by bending only your wrist or elbow.
Maja finished three sets of curls before moving to the bench.
three sets of curls
The trainer corrected Ishaan's elbow during a heavy curl.
during a heavy curl
A slow wrist curl helped Aya strengthen her forearm after surgery.
Heavier curls tired both arms long before the last round.
- biceps curl
the common gym name for the elbow-bending version
- wrist curl
a narrower version that targets the forearm rather than the upper arm
- extension
a movement that straightens the joint instead of bending it
文法句型
do curls
wrist curl
biceps curl
用法筆記
Often appears in exercise names such as 'wrist curl' or 'biceps curl'. The focus is the bending movement, not just holding the weight.
curled — verb
- curledpresent simple I / you / we / they
- curleds3rd person singular
- curleding-ing form
- curlededpast simple
1. to shape something into rings or bends, or to move into that shape by itself.
to shape something into rings or bends, or to move into that shape by itself.
Grandma curled the gift ribbon with the edge of the scissors.
curl + object
Steam curled up from the noodles on the kitchen counter.
curl up from + noun
Wet fern leaves curled inward during the long dry week.
The baker curled chocolate strips over the top of the cake.
- straighten
to remove the bend or ringed shape
文法句型
curl + noun
curl + up/inward/over
用法筆記
Used both when someone bends something on purpose and when hair, leaves, smoke, or paper naturally take that shape.
2. to send a struck ball along a bending path, or for the ball to travel that way.
to send a struck ball along a bending path, or for the ball to travel that way.
Esteban curled the ball around the keeper and into the net.
curl the ball around + player
The pass curled back toward Ziad after hitting the wet grass.
pass curled back toward + player
In practice, the golfer curled the shot toward the back flag.
A late cross curled beyond the far post before anyone touched it.
- drive straight
to send the ball without noticeable sideways turn
文法句型
curl + the ball
ball curls + adverb/preposition
用法筆記
Usually used in sports for balls that turn through the air or across the ground because of how they were struck.
3. if a lip or mouth corner curls upward, it shows scorn or dislike.
if a lip or mouth corner curls upward, it shows scorn or dislike.
One corner of Noura's mouth curled when the bully apologized too late.
mouth curled when + clause
At the rude remark, the actor's lip curled in open contempt.
lip curled in contempt
Dae's mouth curled while reading the smug message aloud.
The judge's upper lip curled for a second at the false excuse.
- smile warmly
shows friendliness instead of contempt
文法句型
lip/mouth curl
curl + at + noun
用法筆記
The subject is usually a mouth or lip, and the meaning is emotional rather than physical shape alone.
4. to play curling, the ice game where players slide stones toward a target.
to play curling, the ice game where players slide stones toward a target.
Our science teacher curled every Friday night at the town rink.
curl at the rink
After dinner, Lena curled with her club team until ten.
curl with a team
Two brothers from the village curled in the winter games finals.
During college in Alberta, Sam curled and later coached beginners.
- play curling
a fuller phrase that makes the sport explicit
文法句型
curl + for/on + team
curl at + rink
用法筆記
This sense is about the ice sport itself, not about making something bend or twisting a ball through the air.