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Curdling Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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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?

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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?

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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.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

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.

Origin of 'curdling'

Main points about word origin

  • 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.

The verb 'curdle' originated in the mid-16th century, from the obsolete noun 'curd' meaning 'coagulated milk'. It is believed to have been derived from the Old English word 'crudan', meaning 'to press, drive'. Over time, the term evolved to describe the process of milk separating into curds and whey, as well as metaphorical uses related to emotions. The word 'curdle' has been used in various contexts, from dairy production to describing unsettling feelings, making it a versatile term in the English language.

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.