a marcelling.
a marcelled condition.
Gabriel 1887–1973, French philosopher, dramatist, and critic.
a male given name.
First recorded in 1890–95; named after Marcel Grateau (1852–1936), French hairdresser who originated it
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
Lily, his wife, unwilling to muss her new marcel wave before he saw it, waited, and kept ready a hot cup of tea.
From Time Magazine Archive
The cynical theatrical population dared the visitors to rearrange its smooth marcel into a prickly pompadour.
From Time Magazine Archive
Say, I went round so fast both skates clinched in my marcel wave.
From The Sorrows of a Show Girl by McGaffey, Kenneth
The taste of a madeleine famously sent French writer Marcel Proust back into vivid memories of childhood.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 29, 2026
Capital Economics’ Marcel Thieliant expects inflation to climb above 3% by early next year.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 23, 2026
"If it was more affordable for families we would definitely go and check it out," says Brennan, who was with wife Erica and children Stephanie and Marcel.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
"The loss of industrial jobs in Germany has accelerated in the past two years," Marcel Fratzscher, president of the DIW economic institute told AFP.
From Barron's ● May 17, 2026
Some other boys at Titid’s, Fortune and Marcel, become our friends.
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
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
She has a string of imitators, most prominently Katy Perry, who has unabashedly appropriated Ms. Von Teese’s femme fatale persona, down to her loosely marcelled waves and winged eyeliner.
From New York Times ● Nov. 24, 2012
The grain in its flat fields waves as if marcelled.
From Time Magazine Archive
Perhaps that’s why, standing there on the porch, unmindful of her behind, she easily believed that what was coming up the steps toward her was another true-as-life Dorcas, four marcelled waves and all.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
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
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
