curlicue
4
7.9
- noun
- /ˈkɜr.lɪ.kjuː/
:
espiral
- She decorated the invitation with beautiful curlicues that made it look elegant.
Lots of intricate curlicues, complicated animals, magnificent contrasts of color.
- Lots of intricate curlicues, complicated animals, magnificent contrasts of color.
Examples
-
On signing, as if instinctively, I added a couple of ridiculous curlicues to the signature.
Fiction book (1991) -
The cover had a gold curlicue border, cheaply done, flaking off.
Fiction book (1993) -
Education is a wonderful thing, to be able to write curlicues the way he can.
-
Make them bold, which helps give the curlicue areas a bit more thickness; it helps when cutting.
Blog text (2) -
Roses and orchids are painted over the sides, and beneath them is written in curlicue letters: "Flowers For All Occasions."
Fiction book (1993) -
When you looked up at its top, you saw two round humps, decorated with curlicues and spirals.
Fiction book (1990) -
The blast of orange swirls and curlicues was blinding in the sun.
Fiction book (1995) -
Each letter was meticulously formed, with curlicues, embellishments, and variations in the thickness of the strokes.
Academic text (2003) -
The fascinating excess of Harlen's father's eyebrows came into sharp focus, the unruly curlicues of a character actor.
Fiction book (2000) -
Books stamped with grotesques and curlicues were arranged so that the gilded spines formed neat patterns against the walls.
Fiction book (1992)
Synonyms
38
3.5
A curved shape that winds around a center and moves outward or inward
20
3.7
A length of wire or rope wound in loops
14
1.0
A spiral shape like the edge of a leaf or the curve of a shell
6
4.8
A spiral or curled shape often used as a decoration
5
8.1
A spiral pattern seen in hair, leaves or smoke
1
7.4
A fancy curved line added to handwriting or a signature
A small round shape made of rings, like on a flower or leaf
Antonyms
How Curly
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Curlicue comes from the idea of a 'curly tail', combining curl and the old French word queue meaning 'tail'. So a curlicue is a small curly 'tail' or twist, which explains why the word means a decorative spiral or flourish.