ENGLISH
REFERENCE

curtain

n. countable
B1 Intermediate Oxford US //ˈkɝtən// UK //kˈɜːtən// cur·tain Archaic General-service Humorous Vulgar

n. a piece of cloth that hangs in front of a window to block light or keep people from looking in. It is also the large heavy cloth that hides the stage in a theater.

n. a hanging piece of fabric used to cover a window, aperture, or stage to exclude light or provide privacy. Often used in the plural when referring to window coverings.


SIMPLE

Please close the curtains so the sun doesn't wake me up.

CONTEXTUAL

The audience fell silent as the heavy velvet curtain rose to reveal the elaborate set design.

COMPLEX

While sheer curtains allow natural light to permeate the room, blackout linings are essential for those who require total darkness to maintain a healthy sleep cycle.

Synonyms
Origin

Inherited from Middle English curtine, from Old French cortine, from Late Latin cōrtīna (“curtain”), a calque from Ancient Greek.

Usage

Commonly used in the plural ('curtains') when referring to a pair of window coverings.

Idioms4 entries

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