curling: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral. Formal in sport contexts, informal in hair/body contexts.
Quick answer
What does “curling” mean?
A winter sport played on ice where players slide heavy stones towards a target area.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A winter sport played on ice where players slide heavy stones towards a target area.
1) The action of forming something into a spiral or curved shape. 2) The name for various processes or sports involving curling motions (e.g., hair curling, weightlifting).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The sport sense is identical. Minor differences in verbal usage frequency ('curl one's hair' vs. 'get a curl').
Connotations
In the UK/Canada, strongly associated with the winter sport. In the US, may first evoke hair styling unless context is given.
Frequency
Higher frequency in Canada and Scotland (sport). In the US, 'curling iron' is a very common collocation.
Grammar
How to Use “curling” in a Sentence
[go/play] curlingthe curling of [NP] (e.g., the leaves)[NP] is curling (e.g., her hair is curling)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “curling” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- We watched the smoke curling from the chimney.
- She spends Tuesday evenings curling at the local ice rink.
American English
- The cat's tail was curling around the chair leg.
- He took up curling after moving to Minnesota.
adjective
British English
- The curling stone glided smoothly.
- She bought a new curling brush for the match.
American English
- The curling team practiced their slides.
- He works at the curling arena.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in sports business or equipment manufacturing.
Academic
In sports science or history papers.
Everyday
Discussing the sport, hair styling, or describing shapes (curling smoke).
Technical
Specific to the sport's rules, or in metallurgy/geometry for 'curling' deformations.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “curling”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “curling”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “curling”
- Using 'curling' as a countable noun (*'I play a curling' → 'I play curling').
- Confusing 'curling' (sport) with 'curling' (action) without context.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, curling has been a permanent medal sport at the Winter Olympics since 1998.
Sweeping melts the ice slightly with friction, reducing friction for the stone, allowing it to travel further and straighter.
Yes, the verb 'to curl' is common (curl your hair, curl up with a book). 'Curling' is its -ing form or the derived noun for the sport.
It originated in medieval Scotland, with the earliest known curling stone dating from 1511.
A winter sport played on ice where players slide heavy stones towards a target area.
Curling is usually neutral. formal in sport contexts, informal in hair/body contexts. in register.
Curling: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɜː.lɪŋ/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɝː.lɪŋ/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “'Sweeping statements' (pun on the sport's brushing action)”
- “None strongly lexicalized.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine CURLING your hair around a stone you then slide on ICE.
Conceptual Metaphor
CONTROL IS GUIDING THE STONE; PRECISION IS A TARGET; TEAMWORK IS SWEEPING THE PATH.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'curling' LEAST likely to refer to the sport?