Curdling: meaning, definitions and examples

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curdling

[ˈkərdlɪŋ ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Verb}

milk

Separate or cause to separate into curds or lumps.

Synonyms

clot, coagulate, solidify.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
curdling	Curdling is frequently used in the context of liquids, particularly milk, when they thicken or separate into curds and whey. This term is common in cooking and food preparation. The milk curdled when we added lemon juice The recipe requires curdling the milk to make cheese
coagulate	Coagulate is a formal term often used in scientific or medical contexts to describe the process by which a liquid, especially blood, changes into a thickened or solid state. The heat caused the liquid to coagulate After the injury, the blood began to coagulate
clot	Clot is typically used in medical or biological contexts to describe a thickened mass of blood or other liquid, often temporarily blocking a flow. He needed medication to prevent blood clots The cut on her arm clotted after a few minutes
solidify	Solidify is a general term used in various contexts to refer to the process of becoming solid. It can be used in scientific, industrial, or everyday situations. The candle wax solidified as it cooled The company needed a strong leader to solidify its future

Examples of usage

The milk curdles when you add vinegar.
He curdled the milk by adding lemon juice.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

emotion

Make someone feel uncomfortable or uneasy.

Synonyms

disturb, unhinge, unsettle.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
curdling	This word can also be used metaphorically to describe something that causes intense fear or discomfort, often in a dramatic or exaggerated sense. The horror movie had a curdling effect on the audience. His curdling scream echoed in the dark alley.
unsettle	Often used to describe causing someone to feel anxious, uneasy, or uncomfortable. It can refer to minor or moderate emotional disturbances. The sudden change in plans unsettled everyone at the meeting. Her strange behavior started to unsettle the neighbors.
disturb	This is used in everyday conversation to denote causing an interruption or a minor annoyance. It can refer to both physical interruptions and emotional or mental disruptions. Please do not disturb me while I’m studying. The loud music disturbed the baby’s sleep.
unhinge	Typically used to describe causing someone to lose mental stability or composure. It has a strong, often negative, connotation that someone is being pushed towards mental or emotional instability. The constant stress from work began to unhinge him. The traumatic event almost unhinged her completely.

Examples of usage

His creepy stare curdled her blood.
The sinister atmosphere curdled the mood in the room.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The term 'curdle' comes from the Old English word 'curd,' which originally meant 'to thicken' or 'to set.'
In Middle English, 'curdlen' described the process of coagulation in milk, connecting language to culinary practice.
The word has evolved, but its roots remain linked to dairy processing techniques that are millennia old.

Science

Curdling occurs through the introduction of an acid, such as lemon juice or vinegar, which causes proteins in milk to clump together.
Pasteurization kills bacteria in milk, but once it's opened and left out, the bacteria can cause it to curdle if not refrigerated.
The curdling process in cheese making is an essential step that separates the solid curds from the liquid whey.

Culinary Uses

Curdling is a key step in producing various cheese types, including ricotta and paneer, providing distinct flavors and textures.
In baking, curdled ingredients can ruin a recipe, but some dishes, like certain sauces or soups, intentionally use curdled cream for richness.
Certain fermented foods, like yogurt, rely on a controlled curdling process to achieve their creamy consistency.

Cultural Context

In many cultures, fresh cheese from curdling milk is a staple food, such as queso blanco in Latin America or cottage cheese in Western cuisines.
Curdled drinks are popular in some traditions; for example, Armenian tan with fermented milk is a refreshing treat.
In some regions, curdling has cultural significance and is associated with community activities, where people gather to make and share dairy products.

Health Perspectives

Some people use curdled lactose-free milk as a healthy dairy alternative, enjoying its benefits without discomfort.
Curdled milk can indicate spoilage, but in traditional applications, fermented or aged curdled products are safe and nutritious.
Understanding how curdling works helps in food preservation techniques, enabling longer storage of dairy products.

Translations

Translations of the word "curdling" in other languages:

🇵🇹 coagulação

🇮🇳 दही जमना

🇩🇪 Gerinnen

🇮🇩 Penggumpalan

🇺🇦 згортання

🇵🇱 ścinanie

🇯🇵 凝固

🇫🇷 caillage

🇪🇸 cuajado

🇹🇷 kesilme

🇰🇷 응고

🇸🇦 تخثر

🇨🇿 srážení

🇸🇰 zrážanie

🇨🇳 凝固

🇸🇮 strjevanje

🇮🇸 storknun

🇰🇿 ұю

🇬🇪 შედედება

🇦🇿 qatlaşma

🇲🇽 cuajado

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #29,720, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

...
29717 pilfering
29718 discourteous
29719 skater
29720 curdling
29721 suggestively
29722 vaporizing
29723 confection
...