curdle

/'kə:dl/

Definition

Verb (intransitive):
- To change from a liquid state into a semi-solid or solid mass, typically in a lumpy or coagulated form. This often describes the natural separation of liquids like milk or blood.
- To become spoiled, sour, or inedible, especially by undergoing this coagulation process.
Verb (transitive):
- To cause a liquid to change into a semi-solid or solid mass; to coagulate.

Examples of Usage

Intransitive Verb:
- The milk will curdle if you leave it out of the refrigerator.
- Her blood curdled in terror at the sudden, eerie sound.
Transitive Verb:
- The addition of lemon juice will curdle the cream.
- The horrific story was enough to curdle one's blood.

Advanced Usage

"to make one's blood curdle": To cause extreme fear, horror, or revulsion.
- The ghostly figure in the window was enough to make my blood curdle.
"to curdle the/one's stomach": To cause a feeling of nausea or disgust.
- The graphic description of the accident curdled my stomach.

Variants and Related Words

Curd (n): The solid or semi-solid part that forms when a liquid curdles, especially in cheese-making.
- The recipe requires you to separate the curds from the whey.
Curdled (adj): Describing a substance that has undergone curdling.
- The sauce had a curdled appearance and was unusable.

Synonyms

Related Phrasal Verbs/Verb Phrases

(Note: "Curdle" is not commonly used with particles to form standard phrasal verbs. Its meaning is typically expressed directly.)

Related Idioms

One's blood curdles: Used to describe a sudden, intense feeling of fear or horror.
- When I heard the floorboards creak at midnight, my blood curdled.
Curdle the cream: Can be used literally or figuratively to mean to spoil something pleasant or rich.
- His cynical remark completely curdled the cream of our celebration.

Verb

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