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to cockle

to cockle

1 9.5
To make a surface form small waves or ripples
  • verb
  • /ˈkɑːkəl/
: arrugar
  • The fabric was exposed to moisture, causing it to cockle and lose its smooth appearance.

Examples

  • The artist decided to cockle the canvas before applying the paint to create a textured effect.

  • When the wind blew across the pond, the surface water began to cockle with small ripples.

  • Than are the tender horns of cockled snails.

Synonyms

to ripple
vsto cockle
40 2.7

To move in small waves on water when wind blows

also applies to making materials show waves or creases, not only water motion
to wrinkle
vsto cockle
31 2.1

To make a small fold in cloth, paper, or skin

covers both creasing and wavy patterns on surfaces, not only folded lines
to pucker
vsto cockle
25 5.2

To make small wrinkles in skin or cloth

is the more general term for forming waves or wrinkles, not only gathered folds
to undulate
vsto cockle
14 7.7

To move in smooth waves like tall grass in the wind

focuses on producing visible waves or wrinkles on a surface rather than continuous motion
to crumple
vsto cockle
12 3.4

Get folded and wrinkled when pressed, like paper or cloth

is about making a surface wavy or wrinkled without the sense of crushing or damage
to crinkle
vsto cockle
11 3.7

Form small lines on paper, skin, or cloth

is broader, applying to larger wavy or wrinkled forms rather than just tiny lines
to ruffle
vsto cockle
8 4.2

Disturb a smooth surface so small waves appear

is about larger or definite wavy or wrinkled patterns rather than small surface disturbance
to knit
vsto cockle
5 4.2

To bring the eyebrows together to make small lines on the forehead

is more general, meaning any wavy or wrinkled surface, not only contraction
to rumple
vsto cockle
1 5.4

To make clothes or hair wrinkled and messy

is more neutral, describing neat wavy or wrinkled patterns rather than messy creasing
to riffle
vsto cockle
1 7.6

To make small ripples on water by moving it slightly

applies more broadly to forming waves or creases in materials, not only stirring water
to ruffle up
vsto cockle
1 4.2

To make a smooth surface uneven or wrinkled

is a more general term for forming clear waves or creasing, not just light disturbance
to ruckle
vsto cockle
1 9.9

To make small folds in cloth by pressing or gathering it

is broader, including smooth waving as well as simple folding

Antonyms

86 2.6

Make something flat and smooth by pressing it

Compounds

1 9.9

A plant with bright purple, trumpet-shaped flowers and poisonous seeds that grows in grain fields and roadsides

1 9.7

A prickly plant with small spiny balls that stick to clothes or animal fur

9.9

A coarse weed with spiny seeds that stick to animals or clothing

9.9

A small European annual plant with pale pink flowers that often grows as a weed in grain fields

3.6

A small shellfish like a clam that people eat

white cockle
  • Specialized
9.9

A plant with sticky stems and groups of white flowers that open in the evening

How Wrinkled

to crumple
12 3.4
to wrinkle
31 2.1
to cockle
1 9.5
to crinkle
11 3.7
to crease
18 2.3

Surface Forms

cockle infinitive
cockling present participle
cockled past
cockled past participle

Etymology

Cockle (verb) comes from the name of the small shell cockle, which came from an old French word coquille meaning 'shell'. Because those shells have many small ribs, to cockle something is to make its surface 'wavy' or 'wrinkled' like a shell.