curl up

To sit or lie with your legs drawn close to your body, often to feel comfortable or safe.

• The cat curled up beside me.
• I like to curl up in bed with a book.
• He curled up under a blanket and fell asleep.

How to use it: curl up with something (She curled up with a book.); curl up on/in something (The cat curled up on my lap.)

Similar words: snuggle up

Opposites: stretch out

Common phrases: curl up in bed, curl up with someone

To bend into a tight round shape or become smaller and wrinkled.

• Dry leaves curl up.
• The paper curled up near the hot lamp.
• The snake curled up beneath a rock.

Similar words: coil, shrivel

Opposites: uncoil

Common phrases: curl up at edges, curl up when dry

To develop small round or curved shapes, especially in hair.

• My hair curls up in the rain.
• The ends curled up as her hair dried.
• Does your hair curl up when it gets damp?

Similar words: curl

Opposites: straighten

Common phrases: curl up naturally, curl up in humidity

To make hair or another material form small round or curved shapes.

• Curl up the ends of your hair.
• The stylist curled up her hair for the wedding.
• You can curl up the ribbon with scissors.

How to use it: curl something up (She curled the ends up with a heated brush.)

Similar words: curl

Opposites: straighten

Common phrases: curl up hair, curl up the ends

To bend something into a tight round shape or make it smaller and wrinkled.

• Curl up the rope neatly.
• He curled up a strip of paper between his fingers.
• She curled the thin wire up into a small ring.

How to use it: curl something up (Curl the wire up before putting it away.)

Similar words: coil, roll up

Opposites: uncoil

Common phrases: curl up a wire, curl up a rope