curler

Curler is a term with several distinct meanings in English. It can refer to a person who participates in the sport of curling, or to a device used to create curls in hair. The sense depends on context.

In the sport of curling, a curler is a player on a curling team. The sport is played on ice, with teams typically of four players. Players slide stones toward a target called the house, while teammates sweep to influence distance and curl. Each team rotates throwing two stones per end, and the skip directs strategy. The stones weigh about 19 kilograms (roughly 42 pounds) and have a diameter of about 28–30 centimeters. The term curler for a player reflects the curling action used to influence the stone’s path as it travels down the ice.

In hair styling, a curler is a device used to create curls by applying heat. This category includes curling irons, curling wands, and hot rollers. Modern curlers may use ceramic, tourmaline, or other coatings to distribute heat and reduce frizz. They come in various barrel sizes to produce different curl sizes, from tight ringlets to loose waves. Users typically apply heat to dry or slightly damp hair and then release the curl, often with styling products to set the shape.

The word curler may also appear in other specialized contexts, but in common usage it most often refers to either a curling athlete or a hair styling tool.