curdle

verb

cur·​dle ˈkər-dᵊl How to pronounce curdle (audio)
curdled; curdling ˈkərd-liŋ How to pronounce curdle (audio)
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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As a baby, back almost before goats were invented, my blood-curdling screams eventually revealed a cow milk allergy (and convinced my parents not to have more children). Teri Sforza, Oc Register, 15 Aug. 2025 If any of your ingredients are too cold, the batter can curdle. Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 11 Aug. 2025 This is going to curdle the dynamics for the rest of the season. Tom Smyth, Vulture, 31 July 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for curdle

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of curdle was in 1585

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Curdle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curdle. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

curdle

verb
cur·​dle ˈkərd-ᵊl How to pronounce curdle (audio)
curdled; curdling ˈkərd-liŋ How to pronounce curdle (audio)
-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

More from Merriam-Webster on curdle

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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