Curdle Meaning in English
word
ˈkɜː.dəl
KUR-dl
kˈɜːdəl
KUR-dl
Definition
To become thick and form lumps, especially when a liquid like milk separates into solid parts.
Usage & Nuances
Commonly used for milk or cream when they turn sour or are heated incorrectly. Can be literal (milk curdles), or figurative ('blood curdles' to describe fear or horror). Often seen in cooking contexts. 'Curdled' is the past participle.
Spanish: cuajar - cortarse (leche)Portuguese (BR): talhar - coalharPortuguese (PT): talhar - coalharChinese (Simplified): 凝结 - 变稠Chinese (Traditional): 凝結 - 變稠Hindi: फटना (दूध)Arabic: يتخثّر - يتجلّطBengali: জমাট বাঁধা - দই হয়ে যাওয়াRussian: свернуться - застывать (о жидкости)Japanese: 凝固する - 分離する (液体としての意味)Vietnamese: đông lại - vón cụcKorean: 응고되다 - 엉기다Turkish: kesilmek - pıhtılaşmakUrdu: جم جانا - رسوب بناناIndonesian: menggumpal - menjadi kental
Example Sentences
The milk will curdle if you leave it out too long.
basic
Add lemon juice to curdle the milk.
basic
Sometimes soup may curdle if you boil it.
basic
My blood seemed to curdle when I heard that noise in the dark.
natural
Don’t let the sauce curdle—keep stirring it gently.
natural
If your milk starts to curdle while heating, it’s best to stop and use fresh milk instead.
natural