curdle

[ kur-dl ]

verb (used with or without object)

, cur·dled, cur·dling.

1. to change into curd; coagulate; congeal.
2. to spoil; turn sour.
3. to go wrong; turn bad or fail:

   Their friendship began to curdle as soon as they became business rivals.

curdle

/ ˈkɜːdəl /

verb

1. to turn or cause to turn into curd
2. curdle someone's blood
   curdle someone's blood to fill someone with fear

Derived Forms

• ˈcurdler, noun

Other Words From

• curdler noun
• non·curdling adjective noun
• un·curdled adjective
• un·curdling adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of curdle¹

First recorded in 1580–90; curd + -le

Word History and Origins

Origin of curdle¹

C16 ( crudled, past participle): from curd

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. curdle the / one's blood, to fill a person with horror or fear; terrify:

   a scream that curdled the blood.

Example Sentences

Crafted from rum, curdled and clarified kefir and a puree of cilantro and mint, it’s the color of life — green — and inspired by mint chutney.

From Washington Post

The dessert first appeared in the 1400s as a beverage made from hot milk and curdled with ale or some other kind of alcohol.

From The Daily Beast

Other times, it’s need and anger curdling into violent resentment.

From Time

With 50 blood-curdling scenarios, each trip to the house on the hill promises fresh horrors almost every time you play.

From Popular-Science

When the employee mixed the milk into a cup of hot coffee, it didn’t curdle.

From Singularity Hub 

No matter what the subject, he came up with a sound bite that could curdle milk.

From The Daily Beast

GUYS SAY: "It makes my blood curdle to think about some chick writing about me on a blog."

From The Daily Beast

It makes my blood curdle to think about some chick writing about me on a blog.

From The Daily Beast

And though topical humor tends to be transitory, a really bad gag can take on a life of its own and curdle a political career.

From The Daily Beast

After eggs have been added for thickening, the soup should not be allowed to boil, as it is liable to curdle.

From Project Gutenberg

If the sauce begins to curdle, beat the soup quickly with a rotary egg beater.

From Project Gutenberg

When it can be done, the milk should be cooked with the sugar before the ingredients likely to make it curdle are added.

From Project Gutenberg

In case the milk does curdle, the mixture should be treated at once, or the result will be very unsatisfactory.

From Project Gutenberg

Curdle fresh milk by warming to 60°C., and adding rennet; filter off the whey into a sterile "tared" flask.

From Project Gutenberg