curly

American  

[kur-lee] / ˈkɜr li /

adjective

curlier, curliest

1. curling curling or tending to curl.

   curly blond hair.

2. having curls (usually used in combination).

   curlyheaded.

3. having a rippled or undulating appearance, as cut and finished wood.

   curly maple.

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curly British  

/ ˈkɜːlɪ /

adjective

1. tending to curl; curling

2. having curls

3. (of timber) having irregular curves or waves in the grain

4. difficult to counter or answer

   a curly question

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Other Word Forms

• curliness noun

Etymology

Origin of curly

First recorded in 1720–30; curl + -y ¹

Example Sentences

A craniofacial reconstruction of the ancient skeleton had previously depicted her as having curly black hair, brown eyes and dark skin.

From BBC

Santa and Mrs. Claus were there, along with a tall skinny elf with curly ribbon hair who called himself Wrinkle Jingle Jangle.

From Los Angeles Times

Jay, with his bouffant curly hair and preternatural ability to remember the smallest details, became a de facto musical matchmaker.

From Los Angeles Times

The curly, ridged shape is perfect for holding onto the thick cheese sauce.

From Salon

Domestication syndrome - anatomical and morphological changes such as curly tails, floppy ears, depigmentation, smaller brains and reduced facial skeletons - are commonly cited as some of the most salient traits, the study says.

From BBC

Related Words

• coiled
• curled
• fuzzy
• kinky
• wavy