PURL

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does purl mean? 

• PURL (noun)
  The noun PURL has 2 senses:

1. gold or silver wire thread

2. a basic knitting stitch made by putting the needle through the front of the stich from the righthand side

  Familiarity information: PURL used as a noun is rare.

• PURL (verb)
  The verb PURL has 5 senses:

1. flow in a circular current, of liquids

2. make a murmuring sound

3. knit with a purl stitch

4. edge or border with gold or silver embroidery

5. embroider with gold or silver thread

  Familiarity information: PURL used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• PURL (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Gold or silver wire thread

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("purl" is a kind of...):

thread; yarn (a fine cord of twisted fibers (of cotton or silk or wool or nylon etc.) used in sewing and weaving)

Derivation:

purl (embroider with gold or silver thread)

purl (edge or border with gold or silver embroidery)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A basic knitting stitch made by putting the needle through the front of the stich from the righthand side

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

purl; purl stitch

Hypernyms ("purl" is a kind of...):

knitting stitch (a stitch taken in knitting)

Derivation:

purl (knit with a purl stitch)

• PURL (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they purl    ... he / she / it purls   
Past simple: purled   
Past participle: purled   
-ing form: purling   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Flow in a circular current, of liquids

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

eddy; purl; swirl; whirl; whirlpool

Hypernyms (to "purl" is one way to...):

course; feed; flow; run (move along, of liquids)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Make a murmuring sound

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

purl; sough

Context example:

the water was purling

Hypernyms (to "purl" is one way to...):

make noise; noise; resound (emit a noise)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 3

Meaning:

Knit with a purl stitch

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "purl" is one way to...):

knit (make (textiles) by knitting)

Domain category:

handicraft (a craft that requires skillful hands)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They purl the cape

Derivation:

purl (a basic knitting stitch made by putting the needle through the front of the stich from the righthand side)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Edge or border with gold or silver embroidery

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "purl" is one way to...):

broider; embroider (decorate with needlework)

Verb group:

purl (embroider with gold or silver thread)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

purl (gold or silver wire thread)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Embroider with gold or silver thread

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "purl" is one way to...):

broider; embroider (decorate with needlework)

Verb group:

purl (edge or border with gold or silver embroidery)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

purl (gold or silver wire thread)

 Context examples 

As he spoke he scrambled down one of the narrow ravines, and, climbing over a low ridge at the further end, he led them into a short valley with a stream purling down the centre of it and a very thick growth of elder and of box upon either side.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)