curtain

Pluralcurtains

Formscurtains, curtaining, curtained

1. 1
   nouncountable

   A piece of cloth hung over a window or bed to block light and give privacy.

   Like a big cloth you slide across a window to block the light.

   She pulled the curtain across the window before going to bed.

   The thick curtains kept the morning sun out of the room.

   Similardrape, drapery

   Note
2. 2
   nouncountable

   A large cloth at the front of a stage that hides it from the audience.

   Like a giant cloth wall that opens to show the stage.

   The curtain rose and the play began.

   Stagehands pulled the curtains closed after the final scene.

   Note
3. 3
   verbfigurativelytransitive

   To hide or cover something, as if behind a piece of cloth.

   Like pulling a sheet across to hide what is behind it.

   Tall trees curtain the house from the road.

   Fog curtained the valley from view.

   Similarscreen, veil, shroud, conceal

   Oppositereveal, expose

   Note
4. 4
   verbtransitive

   To cover a window with hanging cloth.

   They curtain the windows with thick fabric every winter.

   She curtained the bay window with blue linen.

   Similardrape

   Note
5. 5
   noununcountable

   The start of a show, the moment when the stage curtain goes up.

   Like the kickoff that starts a game, but for a play.

   Curtain is at eight, so we should leave now.

   We arrived just before the curtain and found our seats.

   Note
6. 6
   nouneuphemisticcountableplural

   Death, or the moment life comes to an end.

   Like the end of a play, when the cloth comes down and the show is over.

   For the old soldier, the final curtain came quietly in his sleep.

   When the doctor shook his head, we knew it was curtains.

   Similarend, death

   Note
7. 7
   nouncountable

   The part of a wall between two towers or end sections of a building.

   Like the flat panel of fence between two fence posts.

   The curtain between the two towers was plain brick.

   Architects faced the curtains with pale stone.

   Similarwall

   Note
8. 8
   nouncountable

   The flat stretch of castle wall that joins two towers or corner forts.

   Like the long wall joining two corner towers of a castle.

   Cannon fire breached the curtain between the two towers.

   Soldiers manned the long curtains of the fortress.

   Similarwall, rampart

   Note
9. 9
   nouncountable

   A steady falling sheet of liquid that lands on a moving surface to coat it.

   Like a thin waterfall of liquid landing on a moving belt.

   The machine drops a thin curtain of liquid onto the passing paper.

   If the curtain breaks, the coating comes out uneven.

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