How Do You Spell CURDLE?

Pronunciation: [kˈɜːdə͡l] (IPA)

The word "curdle" has a tricky spelling. It is pronounced /ˈkərdl/ with the stress on the first syllable. The "c" is silent so it is pronounced like "kurdle". The "u" makes a short "uh" sound, while the "r" and "d" blend together to create a single consonant sound. The final "le" makes an "uhl" sound. The meaning of "curdle" is to form into curd or to spoil or go sour. Despite its challenging spelling, "curdle" is a commonly used word in culinary and dairy contexts.

CURDLE Meaning and Definition

  1. Curdle (verb):

    1. To curdle is to undergo a chemical process wherein a liquid, particularly milk or a similar substance, changes in texture and forms lumps or thickens due to a reaction with an acid or the activity of enzymes. This transformation typically occurs when the proteins in the liquid coagulate, resulting in the separation of solids from liquids. It can be caused by the addition of an acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, or by the presence of bacteria that produce specific enzymes.

    2. In a broader sense, curdle can also refer to the transformation of any liquid into a state resembling curdled milk, such as when a sauce or a mixture separates or congeals due to improper cooking techniques, spoiled ingredients, or temperature fluctuations.

    3. Curdle can also describe the process of a liquid becoming thick, clumpy, or lumpy due to agitation or exposure to extreme conditions such as heat or cold. This may occur in substances like paint, custards, or batters, where the particles within the liquid clump together, causing a loss of smoothness and uniformity.

    4. Figuratively, curdle may describe the spoiling or ruin of a harmonious or pleasant atmosphere, relationship, or situation due to tension, conflict, or a negative event. It implies a sudden change from a positive or agreeable state to an unpleasant or discordant one.

    Overall, curdle refers to the transformation of a liquid into a lumpy or thickened state, whether through a chemical process, improper cooking, external conditions, or figurative contexts involving disrupted harmony.

  2. To thicken or change into curd; to coagulate; to stagnate or congeal.

    Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.

Common Misspellings for CURDLE

Etymology of CURDLE

The word "curdle" has its origins in the Middle English language. It can be traced back to the Old English word "crýdan" or "crwdan", which meant "to press, squeeze, or crush". This Old English word derives from the Proto-Germanic root "krūdaną", meaning "to press or squeeze". Over time, the meaning of "crýdan" evolved specifically to refer to the coagulation or separation of milk into curds and whey. From there, it transitioned into "curdle" in the Middle English period, which has remained the term used to describe the process of milk coagulation since then.

Idioms with the word CURDLE

  • curdle sb's blood, at make sb's blood curdle To "curdle someone's blood" or "make someone's blood curdle" is an idiom used to describe an experience or event that is extremely shocking, horrifying, or terrifying, causing intense fear or revulsion. It refers to the literal phenomenon of blood curdling or thickening due to fear or extreme emotions. This idiom is often used to emphasize the strong emotional impact of something disturbing or horrifying.
  • make sb's blood curdle The idiom "make sb's blood curdle" refers to something that is so horrifying, frightening, or shocking that it causes a person to feel extreme fear, revulsion, or dismay. It implies that the person's blood, metaphorically, becomes cold or shivers due to the intensity of their reaction.
  • curdle blood The idiom "curdle blood" refers to something that is extremely horrifying, shocking, or disturbing to the point of causing a bodily reaction, specifically the sensation of one's blood feeling cold and thick, similar to curdled milk. It represents an intense and unsettling emotional response to a particular event, image, or experience.
  • curdle sm's blood The idiom "curdle someone's blood" means to cause extreme fear, dread, or horror in someone. It refers to a feeling so intense that it is as if the person's blood is congealing or becoming thick with fright.
  • curdle someone's blood The idiomatic expression "curdle someone's blood" means to fill someone with extreme fear, dread, or horror. It implies an intense feeling of discomfort or unease that causes one's blood to metaphorically "curdle," or congeal, like spoiled milk.
  • curdle (one's) blood The idiom "curdle (one's) blood" means to cause extreme fear, horror, or revulsion in someone. It refers to a feeling of one's blood becoming thick or clotting as a result of experiencing something deeply disturbing or chilling.
  • make your blood curdle The idiom "make your blood curdle" refers to something that is extremely frightening, shocking, or horrifying, to the point of causing one to feel a sudden intense fear or dread. It implies that the experience is so unnerving that it could literally curdle or change the consistency of one's blood.

Similar spelling words for CURDLE

Conjugate verb Curdle

CONDITIONAL PERFECT

I would have curdled
you would have curdled
he/she/it would have curdled
we would have curdled
they would have curdled
I would have curdle
you would have curdle
he/she/it would have curdle
we would have curdle
they would have curdle

CONDITIONAL PERFECT PROGRESSIVE

I would have been curdling
you would have been curdling
he/she/it would have been curdling
we would have been curdling
they would have been curdling

CONDITIONAL PRESENT

I would curdle
you would curdle
he/she/it would curdle
we would curdle
they would curdle

CONDITIONAL PRESENT PROGRESSIVE

I would be curdling
you would be curdling
he/she/it would be curdling
we would be curdling
they would be curdling

FUTURE

I will curdle
you will curdle
he/she/it will curdle
we will curdle
they will curdle

FUTURE CONTINUOUS

I will be curdling
you will be curdling
he/she/it will be curdling
we will be curdling
they will be curdling

FUTURE PERFECT

I will have curdled
you will have curdled
he/she/it will have curdled
we will have curdled
they will have curdled

FUTURE PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I will have been curdling
you will have been curdling
he/she/it will have been curdling
we will have been curdling
they will have been curdling

IMPERATIVE

you curdle
we let´s curdle

NONFINITE VERB FORMS

to curdle

PAST CONTINUOUS

I was curdling
you were curdling
he/she/it was curdling
we were curdling
they were curdling

PAST PARTICIPLE

curdled

PAST PERFECT

I had curdled
you had curdled
he/she/it had curdled
we had curdled
they had curdled

PAST PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I had been curdling
you had been curdling
he/she/it had been curdling
we had been curdling
they had been curdling

PRESENT

I curdle
you curdle
he/she/it curdles
we curdle
they curdle

PRESENT CONTINUOUS

I am curdling
you are curdling
he/she/it is curdling
we are curdling
they are curdling

PRESENT PARTICIPLE

curdling

PRESENT PERFECT

I have curdled
you have curdled
he/she/it has curdled
we have curdled
they have curdled

PRESENT PERFECT CONTINUOUS

I have been curdling
you have been curdling
he/she/it has been curdling
we have been curdling
they have been curdling

PRESENT SUBJUNCTIVE

he/she/it curdle

SIMPLE PAST

I curdled
you curdled
he/she/it curdled
we curdled
they curdled

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