frizz

¹ American  

[friz] / frɪz /

Or friz

verb (used with or without object)

1. to form into small, crisp curls or little tufts.

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noun

1. the state of being frizzed.

2. something frizzed; frizzed hair.

frizz ² American  

[friz] / frɪz /

verb (used with or without object)

1. frizzle.

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frizz British  

/ frɪz /

verb

1. (of the hair, nap, etc) to form or cause (the hair, etc) to form tight wiry curls or crisp tufts

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noun

1. hair that has been frizzed

2. the state of being frizzed

Other Word Forms

• frizzer
  noun

Etymology

Origin of frizz

First recorded in 1650–60; back formation from frizzle ¹

Example Sentences

We found the two apes, with their telltale ginger frizz and bulbous bellies, grazing in the canopy.

From National Geographic • Jan. 23, 2024

This is the only restaurant I know that crowns it with a frizz of fried dried shredded flank steak and fills it with corn cream, a discovery made when fork strikes core.

From Washington Post • Dec. 2, 2022

Her hair, sleek and inky then, now showed frizz and gray streaks.

From Slate • Mar. 8, 2022

“I don’t want to frizz it out,” Holcomb said.

From Washington Times • Aug. 5, 2021

It is very apparent that, no, I did not use the frizz tamer that Tía bought me.

From "Merci Suárez Changes Gears" by Meg Medina

Related Words

• buckle
• coil
• contort
• curve
• fold
• twirl
• twist
• writhe