kɹeɪp kəːl kɝl kɜːv kɝv ˈfɹɪzəl ɹɪk ˈtwɜː(ɹ)l twɪst form a curl, curve, or kink the cigar smoke curled up at the ceiling curl tightly crimp hair a difficulty or flaw in a plan or operation there are still a few kinks to iron out an eccentric idea a person with unusual sexual tastes a sharp bend in a line produced when a line having a loop is pulled tight a painful muscle spasm especially in the neck or back (‘rick’ and ‘wrick’ are British)