curlicue

1 of 2

noun

cur·​li·​cue ˈkər-lē-ˌkyü How to pronounce curlicue (audio)
-li-
variants or less commonly curlycue
: a fancifully curved or spiral figure : flourish

curlicue

2 of 2

verb

curlicued; curlicuing

transitive verb

: to embellish with curlicues

Examples of curlicue in a Sentence

Noun Curlicues were carved into the wood.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Old-timey and white, with tacky curlicue adornments and two peppermint poles in the front, the four-story Liberty Belle carried concertgoers along a scenic route from Manhattan’s Pier 36 around the Statue of Liberty. Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2023 Put ornate curlicues on them and elaborate punctuations. Rick Bass, Field & Stream, 22 Nov. 2023 In these films, Scorsese has stripped his violence of its flourishes and curlicues, boiling it down to its essence. Jason Bailey, New York Times, 22 Oct. 2023 Most of us did not know what poetry was and mistook curlicues, flourishes, and acrobatic metaphors for the apex of the form. The New Yorker, 17 Oct. 2023 Concrete pillars with ornamental curlicues grace the interior. Patrick J. McDonnell, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2023 Fabulous black cord embroideries from Aristides Tzonevrakis’s atelier in Argos, inspired by naturalistic curlicue motifs, graced white sailcloth cropped vests and the tight bodices of asymmetrical dresses, and the famed jeweler Minas provided handsome silver pendants. Tiziana Cardini, Vogue, 1 July 2023 Then, the day after the movie wrapped, Anderson and Murray concocted an idea: in a metatheatrical curlicue, Murray would play a character who was cut from the film. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 29 June 2023 Blackburn delivered a frothy Valse by the French composer Benjamin Godard, its waltz gussied up in runs and curlicues worthy of a bel canto opera. Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 17 July 2023
Verb
Outside, winding paths through gardens and woods lead to site-specific installations, like Eleven Minute Line, a land-art piece by Maya Lin that curlicues through a field of cows. Travel + Leisure Editors, Travel + Leisure, 24 June 2023 The cutwork curlicues, stars, and trees on the border of this runner definitely deliver the wow factor. Sarah Halverson, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Apr. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'curlicue.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

curly + cue a braid of hair

First Known Use

Noun

1843, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1844, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Time Traveler
The first known use of curlicue was in 1843

Dictionary Entries Near curlicue

Cite this Entry

“Curlicue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curlicue. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

curlicue

noun
curli·​cue
variants also curlycue
ˈkər-li-ˌkyü
: a fancifully curved or spiral figure (as a flourish in handwriting)

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