Definition

1. Noun:

   • A roll or reel: A cylindrical object formed by winding a long, flat, or flexible material (like cloth, thread, paper, or wire) around itself or a central core.
   • A coil: Something wound in a connected series of loops or rings.
   • A bale: A large, tightly bound bundle of material, often of hay or cotton.
   • A billow: A rolling mass, especially of smoke, cloud, or waves.

2. Verb:

   • To roll up: To wind or fold a flat or long object into a cylindrical shape.
   • To coil: To form into a series of connected loops or a spiral shape.
   • To curl up: To assume a rounded or coiled shape with one's body.
   • To billow: To move or flow in a rolling, swelling mass (e.g., smoke, clouds).

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • Cô ấy mua một cuộn vải để may váy. (She bought a roll of cloth to sew a dress.)
  • Khói đen bốc lên thành từng cuộn. (Black smoke rose in thick billows.)
  • Con rắn nằm thành một cuộn. (The snake lay in a coil.)

• Verb:

  • Anh ấy cuộn tấm bản đồ lại. (He rolled up the map.)
  • Con mèo cuộn tròn trong góc ghế. (The cat curled up in the corner of the sofa.)
  • Sóng lớn cuộn vào bờ. (Large waves rolled onto the shore.)

Advanced Usage

• "cuộn mình": To coil/curl oneself up (often for comfort, sleep, or defense).

  • Đứa trẻ cuộn mình trong chăn. (The child curled up in the blanket.)

• "cuộn sóng": A rolling/billowing wave; used metaphorically for a powerful, surging movement or trend.

  • Làn sóng biểu tình lan ra như một cuộn sóng. (The protest wave spread like a rolling wave.)

Variants and Related Words

• Cuốn (v): A distinct but phonetically similar verb primarily meaning "to wrap" (like a spring roll) or "to engross" (a book). Do not confuse with cuộn.

  • Cô ấy cuốn bánh tráng với rau và thịt. (She wraps rice paper with vegetables and meat.)

• Cuộn tròn (v phrase): To roll/curl into a round shape.

  • Nó cuộn tròn sợi dây thừng. (He coiled the rope.)

Synonyms

• Noun: Roll, coil, reel, bale, billow.
• Verb: Roll up, wind, coil, curl, billow.

Related Idioms

• Cuộn chỉ rối tung: Literally "a tangled roll of thread"; means a very complicated, messy, or confusing situation.
  • Vụ việc đó giờ đã thành một cuộn chỉ rối tung. (That matter has now become a tangled mess.)

noun

1. Bale; roll; reel
   • cuộn vải
     A roll of cloth

verb

1. to coil; to whirl