Showing results for "curling"

• present participle of curl.

curling

American  

[kur-ling] / ˈkɜr lɪŋ /

noun

• curlings
  plural

1. a game played on ice in which two teams of four players each compete in sliding curling stones toward a mark in the center of a circular target.

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curling British  

/ ˈkɜːlɪŋ /

noun

1. a game played on ice, esp in Scotland and Canada, in which heavy stones with handles ( curling stones ) are slid towards a target ( tee )

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Usage

What is curling? Curling is a sport, played on ice, that involves trying to slide a heavy round stone object (called a curling stone) to the center of a target area on the ice. It is typically played by two four-player teams. Teams take turns sliding stones (which have a handle and are usually made of granite) toward the circular target area (the area is known as the house and its center is known as the button or the tee). Points are scored by the team that gets a stone closest to the button. Any other stones that are closer than the opposing team’s closest stone also result in points. During each turn, one player slides a stone down the ice while up to three of the other players on the team slide along with the stone while attempting to manipulate its speed and direction by sweeping the ice in its path with broomlike brushes. Sweeping the ice helps the stone to travel farther and straighter. Strategy involves not only placing one’s own stones, but also knocking away opponent’s stones. Curling matches, sometimes called bonspiels, consist of multiple rounds, with multiple stone slides from each team during each round. Curling is an event in the Winter Olympics. Wheelchair curling is an event in the Paralympic Winter Games. Curling is especially popular in Scotland, Canada, and some Scandinavian countries. Example: The Winter Olympics are coming up, which means I’ll be watching a lot of curling.

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• curlings
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of curling

First recorded in 1610–20; perhaps curl + -ing ¹, from the motion imparted to the sliding stones

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

curling curlings

Wendy the coyote was a fixture in the San Fernando Valley community for years, often spotted wandering around the neighborhood or curling up to sunbathe in a patch of grass, he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

Serena Ventures has met with potential investment targets from travel startups to a curling league.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

Diogo Dalot: So close to a rare goal with a curling left-footed effort.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

That was quickly apparent after Newcastle fell behind inside four minutes, following Filip Ugrinic's curling opener.

From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2026

The badger looked as though she was trying not to laugh, her lips curling around her fangs.

From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman

But should he forget this precaution, never can the dream be brought back to memory: as well try to re-form the curlings of a smoke- wreath blown away.

From Glimpses of Unfamiliar Japan Second Series by Lafcadio Hearn

The paper, after a few obstinate curlings, caught fire, and Frere, blowing the young flame with his breath, the bark began to burn.

From For the Term of His Natural Life by Marcus Andrew Hislop Clarke

In thin curlings, the gray smoke floated upwards and lay slumberously among the fleecy clouds.

From Ernest Linwood or, The Inner Life of the Author by Caroline Lee Hentz

Small red and yellow spots with puckerings and curlings of the young leaves of Pears, the spots turning darker later on, are due to Phytoptus.

From Disease in Plants by H. Marshall Ward

He catalogued its volutes, its stipples, the frisks and curlings of its pattern.

From There's Pippins and Cheese to Come by Charles S. (Charles Stephen) Brooks

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Related Words

• crooked
• curved
• meandering
• sinuous
• twisting
• winding

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