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curl

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verb American English pronunciation: curl /kɜrl/ 
Word Forms
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present tense
I/you/we/theycurl
he/she/itcurls
present participlecurling
past tensecurled
past participlecurled
  1. 1

    curl

    or

    curl up

    [intransitive/transitive] to form a curved or round shape, or give something this shape

    Jane had short hair curling around her face.

    As she talked, she curled a strand of hair on one finger.

    Sam's hands curled up into fists.

  2. 2
    [intransitive] to move in a curving or twisting way

    Smoke curled from tall chimneys.

  3. 3
    [intransitive] to curve up or down at the edges

    The pages had begun to turn yellow and curl.

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