American chemist who with Richard Smalley and Harold Kroto discovered fullerenes and opened a new branch of chemistry (born in 1933)
"I will ask Professor Curl to explain how his discovery of fullerenes revolutionized the field of nanotechnology."
A piece or lock of curling hair; a ringlet.
"She brushed away the stray curl that had escaped her braid and tickled her cheek."
In plain English: A curl is a piece of hair that has been shaped into a spiral ring, usually by using hot tools to make it look bouncy and styled.
"The cat curled into a ball on the rug before falling asleep."
Usage: Use the noun form when referring specifically to a single lock of curly hair, such as "a tight curl." Distinguish this from general waves by noting that curls are typically defined by their distinct spiral shape rather than just being wavy.
play the Scottish game of curling
"The team spent hours on the ice learning how to properly curl before their first match."
To cause to move in a curve.
"The strong wind began to curl the leaves into tight spirals as they tumbled across the lawn."
In plain English: To curl means to bend something into a curved shape, like when you fold your arms around yourself.
"The cat curled up on the warm rug to sleep."
A surname.
"The famous physicist named Curl received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry."
The word "curl" likely entered English through a reversal in sound order that transformed an Old English root into the Middle English form crulle before settling as its modern spelling. It ultimately traces back to Proto-Germanic roots meaning a bent or crooked object, though scholars cannot pinpoint exactly where this original term arose.