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  • marcel
    marcel
    verb (used with object)
    to wave (the hair) by means of special irons, producing the effect of regular, continuous waves marcel waves.
  • Marcel
    Marcel
    noun
    Gabriel 1887–1973, French philosopher, dramatist, and critic.
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marcel

1 American  
[mahr-sel] / mɑrˈsɛl /

verb (used with object)

marcelled, marcelling
  1. to wave (the hair) by means of special irons, producing the effect of regular, continuous waves marcel waves.


noun

  1. a marcelling.

  2. a marcelled condition.

Marcel 2 American  
[mahr-sel, mar-sel] / mɑrˈsɛl, marˈsɛl /

noun

  1. Gabriel 1887–1973, French philosopher, dramatist, and critic.

  2. a male given name.


marcel 1 British  
/ mɑːˈsɛl /

noun

  1. Also called: marcel wave. a hairstyle characterized by repeated regular waves, popular in the 1920s

"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

verb

  1. (tr) to make such waves in (the hair) with special hot irons

"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
Marcel 2 British  
/ marsɛl /

noun

  1. Gabriel ( Honoré ) (ɡabriɛl). 1889–1973, French Christian existentialist philosopher and dramatist, whose philosophical works include Being and Having (1949) and The Mystery of Being (1951)

"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

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of marcel

First recorded in 1890–95; named after Marcel Grateau (1852–1936), French hairdresser who originated it


Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

The Harlem in “The Back Room” is a site for “fine gowns and tuxedos, marcel waves and glitter.”

From Washington Times ● Jan. 15, 2020

My aunties would come to town from Chicago and get the marcel iron out,” she said.

From New York Times ● Sep. 14, 2018

The cynical theatrical population dared the visitors to rearrange its smooth marcel into a prickly pompadour.

From Time Magazine Archive

He is 21, stands up to the plate in perfect style; his hair falls away from his forehead in a natural marcel.

From Time Magazine Archive

I got a new marcel and a cold on my chest that weighs a ton.

From Every Soul Hath Its Song by Fannie Hurst

Pidcock finished second at the one-day race in Varese but was left "mad" after Pinarello-Q36.5 team-mates Marcel Camprubi and Thomas Gloag were knocked off their bikes with six laps of the finishing circuit to go.

From BBC ● Oct. 7, 2026

Now located in Marcel Breuer’s iconic New York building, the art fair continues to champion the underappreciated and overlooked.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 26, 2026

"We expect inflation excluding fresh food and energy to rise further towards 2.5 percent by early next year," said Marcel Thieliant of Capital Economics.

From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026

“We’re really hanging on by a thread,” said Marcel Wittfeld of Peekaboo Playland.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026

“Everything you been working on, Titid,” says Marcel, in a sudden silence.

From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple

Were the Roaring Twenties a time of release, as they’re often depicted in pop culture — all those glittery dresses and tiaras and marcelled hair!

From New York Times ● Sep. 6, 2021

In one still from Peacock Records, the processed and marcelled hair that was Little Richard’s irrepressible glory has been squashed beneath a calypsonian’s straw hat.

From New York Times ● May 11, 2020

Her previously loose and tawny hair is now marcelled and peroxide blond; her glittering but shapeless black gown projects the expensive glamour of a society matron.

From The New Yorker ● Apr. 14, 2017

Last week, having announced a modern McPherson crusade, the strapping, marcelled evangelist chartered the 19,000-ton Republic of the U. S. Lines.

From Time Magazine Archive

But with the bun tucked under, the waves, and a side part, the style resembled a marcelled bob.

From "The Red Car to Hollywood" by Jennie Liu

Last week Jonah Uden was pronounced capable of waving, marcelling, bobbing, shingling and shampooing.

From Time Magazine Archive

Like women sitting for two hours under the marcelling irons only to wonder two days later how soon they would need another appointment.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

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