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Curtain Window Back Piece Cloth Final Cover Ten

Word curtain
WordType (noun)
Phonetic BrE / ˈkɜːtn / NAmE / ˈkɜːrtn /
Example
  • to draw/pull/close the curtains (= to pull them across the window so they cover it)
  • to draw/draw back/pull back the curtains (= to open them, so that the window is no longer covered)
  • it was ten in the morning but the curtains were still drawn (= closed).
  • a pair of curtains
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Content

curtain

(noun)BrE / ˈkɜːtn / NAmE / ˈkɜːrtn /
  1. a piece of cloth that is hung to cover a window
    • see also drape
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/drape_2
    • to draw/pull/close the curtains (= to pull them across the window so they cover it)
    • to draw/draw back/pull back the curtains (= to open them, so that the window is no longer covered)
    • It was ten in the morning but the curtains were still drawn (= closed).
    • a pair of curtains
  2. a very thin piece of cloth that you hang at a window, which allows light to enter but stops people outside from being able to see inside
  3. a piece of cloth that is hung up as a screen in a room or around a bed, for example
    • see also Iron Curtain
      https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/the-iron-curtain
    • a shower curtain
  4. a piece of thick, heavy cloth that hangs in front of the stage in the theatre
    • The audience was waiting for the curtain to rise (= for the play to begin).
    • There was tremendous applause when the curtain came down (= the play ended).
    • We left just before the final curtain.
    • The curtain has fallen on her long and distinguished career (= her career has ended).
    • It's time to face the final curtain (= the end; death).
  5. a thing that covers, hides or protects something
    • a curtain of rain/smoke
    • She pushed back the curtain of brown hair from her eyes.
  6. to be a situation without hope or that you cannot escape from
    • When I saw he had a gun, I thought it was curtains for me.
  7. to finish or mark the end of something
    • His sudden decision to retire brought down the curtain on a distinguished career.

    Extra Examples

    • He took a bag from a shelf behind some curtains.
    • Heavy red velvet curtains hung either side of the huge window.
    • She pulled back the curtains, and sunlight streamed in.
    • The curtains billowed as the wind caught them.
    • They sat in the dark with the curtains drawn.
    • It was ten in the morning but the curtains were still drawn.
    • It’s time to face the final curtain.
    • The audience was waiting for the curtain to rise.
    • The curtain has fallen on her long and distinguished career.
    • There was tremendous applause when the curtain came down.
    • We left just before the final curtain.

    Word Origin

    • Middle English: from Old French cortine, from late Latin cortina, translation of Greek aulaia, from aulē ‘court’.
Copyright This card's content is collected from the following dictionaries: Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

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