Transcription
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- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [kurl uhp]
- /kɜrl ʌp/
- /kɜːl ʌp/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [kurl uhp]
- /kɜrl ʌp/
Definitions of curl up words
- verb curl up to adopt a reclining position with the legs close to the body and the back rounded 3
- verb curl up to become or cause to become spiral-shaped or curved 3
- verb curl up to retire to a quiet cosy setting 3
- verb curl up to be or cause to be embarrassed or disgusted (esp in the phrase curl up and die) 3
- noun curl up to gather into spirals or curls; roll up 3
- noun curl up to sit or lie with the legs drawn up 3
Information block about the term
Origin of curl up
First appearance:
before 1400 One of the 24% oldest English words
1400-50; late Middle English, apparently back formation from curled, metathetic variant of Middle English crulled (past participle) crul (adj.); compare Middle Dutch crullen to curl, cruller
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Curl up
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
curl up popularity
A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 98% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".
curl up usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for curl up
verb curl up
- caress — If you caress someone, you stroke them gently and affectionately.
- snuggle — to lie or press closely, as for comfort or from affection; nestle; cuddle.
- clasp — If you clasp someone or something, you hold them tightly in your hands or arms.
- nuzzle — to burrow or root with the nose, snout, etc., as an animal does: a rabbit nuzzling into the snow.
- fondle — to handle or touch lovingly, affectionately, or tenderly; caress: to fondle a precious object; to fondle a child.
Antonyms for curl up
verb curl up
- release — to lease again.
- let go — to move or proceed, especially to or from something: They're going by bus.
- disorder — lack of order or regular arrangement; confusion: Your room is in utter disorder.
- disorganize — to destroy the organization, systematic arrangement, or orderly connection of; throw into confusion or disorder.
- unsettle — to alter from a settled state; cause to be no longer firmly fixed or established; render unstable; disturb: Violence unsettled the government.
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with c
- Words starting with cu
- Words starting with cur
- Words starting with curl
- Words starting with curlu
- Words starting with curlup