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curtain

cur·tain
C c

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [kur-tn]
    • /ˈkɜr tn/
    • /ˈkɜːtn/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [kur-tn]
    • /ˈkɜr tn/

Definitions of curtain word

  • countable noun curtain Curtains are large pieces of material which you hang from the top of a window. 3
  • countable noun curtain Curtains are pieces of very thin material which you hang in front of windows in order to prevent people from seeing in. 3
  • singular noun curtain In a theatre, the curtain is the large piece of material that hangs in front of the stage until a performance begins. 3
  • singular noun curtain You can refer to something as a curtain when it is thick and difficult to see through or get past. 3
  • noun curtain a piece of material that can be drawn across an opening or window, to shut out light or to provide privacy 3
  • noun curtain a barrier to vision, access, or communication 3

Information block about the term

Origin of curtain

First appearance:

before 1250
One of the 11% oldest English words
1250-1300; Middle English co(u)rtine < Anglo-French, Old French < Late Latin cortīna, probably equivalent to co(ho)rt- (stem of cohors; see court) + -īna -ine1, as calque of Greek aulaía curtain, derivative of aulḗ courtyard

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Curtain

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

curtain popularity

A common word. It’s meaning is known to most children of preschool age. About 95% of English native speakers know the meaning and use the word.
Most Europeans know this English word. The frequency of it’s usage is somewhere between "mom" and "screwdriver".

curtain usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for curtain

noun curtain

  • decoration — The decoration of a room is its furniture, wallpaper, and ornaments.
  • drape — to cover or hang with cloth or other fabric, especially in graceful folds; adorn with drapery.
  • screen — a movable or fixed device, usually consisting of a covered frame, that provides shelter, serves as a partition, etc.
  • shutter — a solid or louvered movable cover for a window.
  • shroud — a cloth or sheet in which a corpse is wrapped for burial.

verb curtain

  • overspread — to spread or diffuse over: A blush of embarrassment overspread his face.
  • mantling — a loose, sleeveless cloak or cape.
  • stash — to put by or away as for safekeeping or future use, usually in a secret place (usually followed by away): The squirrel stashes away nuts for winter.
  • layered — a thickness of some material laid on or spread over a surface: a layer of soot on the window sill; two layers of paint.

Top questions with curtain

  • how to hang curtain?
  • what was the iron curtain?
  • how to hand curtain rods?
  • how to hang curtain rods?
  • what is the iron curtain?
  • how to install curtain rods?
  • how to clean shower curtain?
  • how to hang a curtain rod?

See also

Matching words

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