friz

A hairdresser uses a curling iron to friz the client's hair.

Definition

1. Noun:

   • Curled or frizzed hair: "friz" refers to hair that is tightly curled or frizzed, often in a mass of small, wiry curls.
   • A frizzed state: The condition or appearance of having such hair.

2. Verb (transitive):

   • To curl or crisp hair: To form hair into small, tight curls or a frizzed texture, often using heat or chemicals.
   • To dress or finish leather: In leatherworking, to scrape or rub the surface of leather to raise a nap or create a soft texture.

3. Verb (intransitive):

   • To sizzle or sputter: To make a crackling, hissing sound, as when frying food in hot oil.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • She spent hours trying to tame her unruly friz. (Her hair was in a mass of tight, messy curls.)
  • The hairstyle gave her a wild friz that she didn't like. (The style created a frizzed appearance.)

• Verb (transitive):

  • He used a curling iron to friz her hair for the party. (He created tight curls in her hair.)
  • The tanner learned to friz the leather to give it a soft, suede-like finish. (He scraped the leather to raise the surface texture.)

• Verb (intransitive):

  • The bacon began to friz in the hot pan. (It started to sizzle and sputter as it cooked.)

Advanced Usage

• "to friz up": To curl or crisp hair excessively, often resulting in a frizzy, untidy look.

  • The humidity caused her hair to friz up into a tangled mess. (The moisture made her hair curl tightly and become messy.)

• "frizzed leather": Leather that has been mechanically treated to create a soft, napped surface, similar to suede.

  • The craftsman preferred frizzed leather for its comfortable feel. (The leather had been scraped to raise a soft nap.)

Variants and Related Words

• Frizzle (verb/noun): A variant of "friz," meaning to curl or crisp hair, or a tightly curled lock of hair.

  • The heat frizzled her hair into small ringlets. (The heat curled it tightly.)

• Frizzy (adj): Having a mass of small, tight curls; often used to describe hair that is dry or unruly.

  • Her frizzy hair was difficult to comb. (Her hair was full of tight, tangled curls.)

• Frizzing (n/adj): The process or result of curling or crisping hair.

  • The frizzing effect was achieved with a special styling tool. (The curling process created the desired texture.)

Synonyms

• Curl: to form into a spiral or ringlet shape.
• Crisp: to make or become curly or wavy (especially hair).
• Sizzle: to make a hissing sound when frying.

Phrasal Verbs

• Friz up: To cause hair to become frizzed or tightly curled.
  • The damp weather always frizzes up her hair. (The moisture makes her hair curl tightly and become messy.)

Related Idioms

• Friz and fuzz: A colloquial phrase describing hair that is both tightly curled and fluffy or fuzzy.
  • After the rain, her hair was all friz and fuzz. (Her hair was a combination of tight curls and soft fuzziness.)