Standard Lemma guide

furl

verb · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • UK: /fɜːl/
  • General-American: /fɝl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)l

1

verb

Meaning 1

To lower, roll up and secure (something, such as a sail or flag)

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: transitive

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

verb

Meaning 2

form into a cylinder by rolling

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • Roll up the cloth

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: roll up

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: change shape, change form, deform

Narrower terms: douse, reef, bolt, take in, gather in, brail

History

Etymology

Perhaps from Old French ferlier, modern French ferler.

Across languages

Translations

19 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Asturian: aferrar — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Bulgarian: свивам (svivam) — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Bulgarian: сгъвам (sgǎvam) — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Bulgarian: прибирам (pribiram) — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Dutch: gekruld — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Finnish: laskea — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • French: ferler — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Galician: aferrar — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • German: aufrollen — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • German: bergen — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • German: einrollen — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Italian: ammainare — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Italian: chiudere — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Māori: rīwhi — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Norman: patchi — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Norman: sèrrer — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Russian: свёртывать (svjórtyvatʹ) — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Spanish: aferrar — to lower, roll up and secure something
  • Spanish: recoger — to lower, roll up and secure something