curl up

Verb

curl up (third-person singular simple present curls up, present participle curling up, simple past and past participle curled up)

1. (transitive) to curl, make curly, shape into curls
   • Rollers are a good way to curl up your hair.
2. (intransitive) to become curly
3. (transitive) to coil or shrivel, make into a coil
4. (intransitive) to become coiled or shriveled
5. (intransitive) to shape one's body into a somewhat ball-like shape, with one's legs tucked into the abdomen, especially for cosiness or for protection.
   • curl up with a good book
   • He smiled a kind of sickly smile, and curled up on the floor.1903, Bret Harte, The Society upon the Stanislaus