curlicue

or cur·ly·cue

[ kur-li-kyoo ]

/ ˈkɜr lɪˌkyu /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for curlicue on Thesaurus.com

noun

an ornamental, fancy curl or twist, as in a signature.

QUIZ

QUIZ YOURSELF ON AFFECT VS. EFFECT!

In effect, this quiz will prove whether or not you have the skills to know the difference between “affect” and “effect.”

Question 1 of 7

The rainy weather could not ________ my elated spirits on my graduation day.

affect

effect

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Meet Grammar Coach

Write or paste your essay, email, or story into Grammar Coach and get grammar help

Improve Your Writing

Meet Grammar CoachImprove Your Writing

Origin of curlicue

First recorded in 1835–45; curly + cue²

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use curlicue in a sentence

Cue heartbroken Galavant engorging himself on booze and mutton back home.
‘Galavant’: A Drunken, Horny Musical Fairy Tale|Melissa Leon|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But there was also curly-haired Queen guitarist Brian May and playwright Tom Stoppard.
Churchill’s Secret Treasures for Sale: A British PM’s Life on the Auction Block|Tom Teodorczuk|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Suddenly, a tall, curly haired white man appeared and thrust himself in the middle of the opposing forces.
Honoring The Late John Doar, A Nearly Forgotten Hero Of The Civil Rights Era|Gary May|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The blast was a stupefying white flash followed by a body-shaking howl, and it was the cue for a maelstrom of metallic shrieks.
Shocked by Ukraine Violence, NATO Prepares to Face Down Putin|Leo Cendrowicz|October 12, 2014|DAILY BEAST

She did not weep on cue in public when Monteith died, or seek sympathy.
Why Does Everyone Hate Lea Michele?|Tim Teeman|October 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I pictured him as slim and young looking, smooth-faced, with golden curly hair, and big brown eyes.
The Boarded-Up House|Augusta Huiell Seaman
"This organized conspiracy on your part," the capstan gurgled, taking his cue from the mast.
Kipling Stories and Poems Every Child Should Know, Book II|Rudyard Kipling
She was a laughing, curly-haired girl with dancing black eyes and an altogether roguish look.
The Girls of Central High on the Stage|Gertrude W. Morrison
Those two, Harry and Mary, are exactly alike, except for Harry's curly mane of lion-coloured wig.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge
Nicholas Rubinstein was short and stoutly built; fair-complexioned, with curly hair.
The Life & Letters of Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky|Modeste Tchaikovsky

British Dictionary definitions for curlicue

curlicue

/ (ˈkɜːlɪˌkjuː) /

noun

an intricate ornamental curl or twist

Word Origin for curlicue

C19: from curly + cue ²

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

curlicue

or cur·ly·cue

Origin of curlicue

Words related to curlicue

How to use curlicue in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for curlicue

Word Origin for curlicue