Definition of: curl

(kûrl) v.t.
1. To twist into ringlets or curves, as the hair.
2. To form into a curved or spiralshape.
3. Obs. To adorn with curls.
—v.i.
4. To become curved; take a spiral shape.
5. To play at the game of curling.
—noun
1. Anything coiled or spiral, as a ringlet.
2. Sinuosity.
3. A circling or wavelike marking.
4. Bot. A disease of plants, especially of peach trees.
5. Physics A vector differential operator used in studying phenomena of spin or rotation. [Metathetic var. of ME crollid, crulled curled <crull curly <MLG]
—curl′·i·ness noun
—curl′y adjective