Curdle: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to the process of turning from a liquid into lumps or curds. It is often used to describe a negative or unwanted reaction, often in culinary contexts.

• The soup might curdle if it is left out for too long.
• Anxiety can curdle your thoughts and make it hard to focus.

Used to describe the process of a liquid, especially blood, becoming thickened into a solid or semi-solid mass. This term is mainly used in scientific or medical contexts.

• The blood started to coagulate around the wound.
• Egg whites will coagulate when they are cooked.

Primarily used in medical or biological contexts to refer to the process of blood turning into a solid form. It can also be used metaphorically to describe something becoming thick and obstructive.

• The doctors quickly worked to dissolve the blood clot.
• His thoughts began to clot, making it difficult to concentrate.

Commonly used to describe the process of making a liquid more dense or viscous, often in cooking or manufacturing. It can also be used metaphorically to mean making something more intense or complicated.

• Add cornstarch to the mixture to thicken the gravy.
• The plot of the book began to thicken as more twists were introduced.

Similar to 'curdle', often used in the same way to describe when a liquid, primarily milk, starts to solidify into lumps.

• If the soup begins to curdle, it means you’ve added the dairy too soon.
• Don't let the cream curdle while making the sauce.

Used to describe the process when a food or drink develops an acidic taste, often indicating that it has gone bad.

• You should discard milk that has turned sour.
• Leaving fruit out too long can cause it to sour.

A general term for food that has gone bad and is no longer safe to eat.

• Food can spoil quickly if not stored properly.
• Always check expiration dates to avoid spoiled products.

An informal way to say that food has gone bad, applicable to a wide range of food items.

• If the chicken smells off, it has probably turned bad.
• Don’t eat that—it looks like it’s turned bad.