curdle

verb

cur·​dle ˈkər-dᵊl 

curdled; curdling ˈkərd-liŋ 

ˈkər-dᵊl-iŋ

intransitive verb

1

: to form curds

also : to congeal as if by forming curds

a scream curdled in her throat

2

: to go bad or wrong : spoil

transitive verb

1

: to cause curds to form in

curdled milk

2

: spoil, sour

Examples of curdle in a Sentence

Too much heat will make the custard curdle.

Too much heat will curdle the custard.

Recent Examples on the Web

But a major investment in free-agent starter Corbin Burnes has already curdled, and general manager Mike Hazen could recoup a good bit of talent in a seller’s market this month. —The Athletic Mlb Staff, New York Times, 8 July 2025

This is going to curdle the dynamics for the rest of the season. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 July 2025

This pie is not ideal for freezing, as the custard can curdle when thawed. —Ann Taylor Pittman, Southern Living, 3 July 2025

Wife guy, always a little mocking, curdled into the plainly pejorative. —Jeremy Gordon, The Atlantic, 9 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

metathetic variant of cruddle, crudle, frequentative of crud entry 2

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing curdle

• make someone's blood curdle

Rhymes for curdle

• girdle
• hurdle

Kids Definition

curdle

verb

cur·​dle ˈkərd-ᵊl 

curdled; curdling ˈkərd-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to form curds

2

: to cause curds to form in

high heat curdled the custard

3

—used in expressions such as make one's blood curdle to indicate a feeling of terror

a ghost story that will make your blood curdle