curly

[ kur-lee ]

adjective

, curl·i·er, curl·i·est.

1. curling curling or tending to curl:

   curly blond hair.

2. having curls (usually used in combination):

   curlyheaded.

3. having a rippled or undulating appearance, as cut and finished wood:

   curly maple.

curly

/ ˈkɜːlɪ /

adjective

1. tending to curl; curling
2. having curls
3. (of timber) having irregular curves or waves in the grain
4. difficult to counter or answer

   a curly question

Derived Forms

• ˈcurliness, noun

Other Words From

• curli·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of curly¹

First recorded in 1720–30; curl + -y ¹

Example Sentences

“He definitely doesn’t have as much curly hair as the Filipino one,” she joked while trying to gather her thoughts.

From Los Angeles Times

Sure, Loraine has curly, silver hair and oversized glasses and, at 86, now walks a tad more gingerly than she used to.

From Los Angeles Times

He is in the middle of encouraging Daniela Avanzini, a Cuban American member of Katseye, to embrace her naturally curly hair, while ensuring that her makeup brings out the golden undertones of her skin.

From Los Angeles Times

At the time, I had big curly hair, I was wearing a sporty dress, and he said, “Oh, you look like a circus girl, you can start tomorrow.”

From Los Angeles Times

“I tell people I have a waterbed, and everyone laughs,” says Gerrish, 78, a financial planner with white curly hair and manicured lavender nails.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• coiled
• curled
• fuzzy
• kinky
• wavy