marcel
verb (used with object)
to wave (the hair) by means of special irons, producing the effect of regular, continuous waves marcel waves.
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marcel
1 American
[mahr-sel]
/ mɑrˈsɛl /
verb (used with object)
marcelled,
marcelling
noun
-
a marcelling.
-
a marcelled condition.
Marcel
2
American
[mahr-sel, ma r -sel]
/ mɑrˈsɛl, marˈsɛl /
noun
-
Gabriel 1887–1973, French philosopher, dramatist, and critic.
-
a male given name.
marcel
1
British
/ mɑːˈsɛl /
noun
verb
Marcel
2
British
/ marsɛl /
noun
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
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
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
Just think!" exclaimed Mrs. Hubbell rapturously, "only three francs for a facial or a manicure and two for a marcel.
From Gigolo by Edna Ferber
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
Texas A&M made its big bet on quarterback Marcel Reed, shelling out a reported $3 million.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 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
“Father Marcel, my twin sister, Olanna,” Kainene said.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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
Also doing double duty is Songwriter Frank Loesser who, besides contributing a nice burlesque of a marcelled thug named Hair-Do Lempke, composed the songs which Betty sandwiches in between her Keystone clowning.
From Time Magazine Archive
She had a thick, straight-up, corseted figure and gray hair that had been marcelled into such stiff, even waves I wondered if she dared put her head down on a pillow at night.
From "Homesick" by Jean Fritz
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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