The snake curled up into a neat coil.
•It curled up so we couldn't get at it.
2. [for one] to bend one's body into a resting place, such as a chair or a bed. •Colleen curled up in the chair and took a nap.
•She curled up and took a nap.
Dictionary of American idioms. 2013.
curl — ► VERB 1) form or cause to form a curved or spiral shape. 2) move in a spiral or curved course. 3) (curl up) informal writhe with embarrassment, shame, or amusement. 4) play at the game of curling. ► NOUN 1) something in the shape of a spiral or… … English terms dictionary
curl something up — ˌcurl ˈup | ˌcurl sthˈup derived to form or make sth form into a tightly curled shape • The paper started to shrivel and curl up in the heat. Main entry: ↑curlderived … Useful english dictionary
curl your lip — curl (your) lip literary to lift one side of your mouth in an expression which shows that you do not like or respect something or someone. Don t you curl your lip at me, young miss! … New idioms dictionary
curl lip — curl (your) lip literary to lift one side of your mouth in an expression which shows that you do not like or respect something or someone. Don t you curl your lip at me, young miss! … New idioms dictionary
curl — curl1 [kə:l US kə:rl] v [I and T] [Date: 1300 1400; Origin: crul curly (1300 1400), probably from Middle Dutch] 1.) to form a twisted or curved shape, or to make something do this ▪ Mary was busy curling her hair. curl around/round ▪ Ivy curled… … Dictionary of contemporary English
curl — 1 noun 1 (C) a small mass of hair that hangs in a curving shape: a little boy with beautiful blonde curls 2 (C) something that forms a curved shape: A curl of smoke rose from her cigarette. 3 a curl of your lip/mouth a sideways and upwards… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
curl — [[t]kɜ͟ː(r)l[/t]] curls, curling, curled 1) N COUNT If you have curls, your hair is in the form of tight curves and spirals. ...the little girl with blonde curls... A curl of black hair fell loosely across his forehead. 2) N UNCOUNT If your hair… … English dictionary
curl — I UK [kɜː(r)l] / US [kɜrl] verb Word forms curl : present tense I/you/we/they curl he/she/it curls present participle curling past tense curled past participle curled ** 1) curl or curl up [intransitive/transitive] to form a curved or round shape … English dictionary
curl — curl1 [ kɜrl ] verb ** 1. ) curl or curl up intransitive or 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… … Usage of the words and phrases in modern English
curl — [kɜːl] verb I 1) [I/T] to form a curved or round shape, or to give something this shape As she talked, she curled a strand of hair on one finger.[/ex] 2) [I] to move in a curving or twisting way Smoke curled from tall chimneys.[/ex] 3) [I] to… … Dictionary for writing and speaking English
curl up — phrasal verb Word forms curl up : present tense I/you/we/they curl up he/she/it curls up present participle curling up past tense curled up past participle curled up 1) a) [intransitive] to sit in a comfortable position, with your legs bent and… … English dictionary
