A curl is a rounded shape that twists or turns back on itself.
You often hear people talk about their hair having a great curl, which means it's bouncy and curved. Imagine someone with big, fluffy waves coming out of their head – they'd have lovely curls! But you can also use the word "curl" for things other than hair. For example, you might see a curled-up leaf on a tree branch or a curled-up paper that's been crumpled up in your hand. Sometimes people even talk about curling up with a good book – it means getting all cozy and comfortable while reading.
How common is "curl"?
Word curl is considered uncommon in modern English. It appears most frequently in fiction texts and less often in other writings.
Definitions
noun
A curving piece or lock of hair; a ringlet.
A curved stroke or shape.
A spin making the trajectory of an object curve.
(curling) Movement of a moving rock away from a straight line.
(weightlifting) Any exercise performed by bending the arm, wrist, or leg on the exertion against resistance, especially those that train the biceps.
Example: Now do a curl and an overhead press, keeping your palms facing in.
(calculus) The vector field denoting the rotationality of a given vector field.
Example: The curl of the vector field #92;vec#123;F#125;(x,y,z) is the vector field #92;operatorname#123;curl#125;#92;,#92;vec#123;F#125;#92;equiv#92;vec#123;#92;nabla#125;#92;times#92;vec#123;F#125;#61;#92;left(#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;z#125;#123;#92;partialy#125;-#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;y#125;#123;#92;partialz#125;,#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;x#125;#123;#92;partialz#125;-#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;z#125;#123;#92;partialx#125;,#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;y#125;#123;#92;partialx#125;-#92;frac#123;#92;partialF#95;x#125;#123;#92;partialy#125;#92;right).
(calculus, proper noun) The vector operator, denoted rm curl; or ⃑∇×⃑(·), that generates this field.
(agriculture, phytopathology, uncountable) Any of various diseases of plants causing the leaves or shoots to curl up; often specifically the potato curl.
(music, chiefly lutherie) The contrasting light and dark figure seen in wood used for stringed instrument making; the flame.
Example: The one-piece back is of a medium curl.
(American football) A pattern where the receiver appears to be running a fly pattern but after a set number of steps or yards quickly stops and turns around, looking for a pass.
(baking, chiefly in the plural) A thin, curved piece of chocolate used as decoration.
