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What (who) is curtain - definition

CLOTH USED TO BLOCK OUT LIGHT

Curtains; Net curtains; Net curtain; Roll-down curtain; Drop-down curtain; Pull-down curtain

Curtains

curtain

(curtains)

Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English.

1.

Curtains are large pieces of material which you hang from the top of a window. (mainly BRIT; in AM, usually use drapes
)

Her bedroom curtains were drawn.

N-COUNT

2.

Curtains are pieces of very thin material which you hang in front of windows in order to prevent people from seeing in. (AM; in BRIT, use net curtains
)

N-COUNT

3.

In a theatre, the curtain is the large piece of material that hangs in front of the stage until a performance begins.

The curtain rises toward the end of the Prelude.

N-SING: the N

4.

You can refer to something as a curtain when it is thick and difficult to see through or get past. (LITERARY)

He saw something dark disappear behind the curtain of leaves.

N-SING: usu N of n

see also Iron Curtain

5.

If something brings down the curtain on an event or situation, it causes or marks the end of it.

Management changes are under way that will finally bring down the curtain on Lord Forte's extraordinary working life.

PHRASE: V inflects, PHR n

curtain

¦ noun

1. a piece of material suspended at the top to form a screen, typically movable sideways and found as one of a pair at a window.

(the curtain) a screen of heavy cloth or other material that can be raised or lowered at the front of a stage.

a raising or lowering of the curtain at the beginning or end of an act or scene.

2. (curtains) informal a disastrous outcome.

¦ verb [often as adjective curtained] provide with a curtain or curtains.

?conceal with or as with a curtain.

Origin

ME: from OFr. cortine, from late L. cortina, translation of Gk aulaia, from aule 'court'.

curtain

n.

1) to draw; lower; raise a curtain

2) (in the theater) to ring down; ring up the curtain

3) to hang, put up curtains

4) a drop; shower; stage, theater curtain

5) (fig.) a bamboo; iron curtain

6) (in the theater) the curtain goes up, rises; comes down, drops, falls

Wikipedia

Curtain

A curtain is a piece of cloth or other material intended to block or obscure light, air drafts, or (in the case of a shower curtain), water. A curtain is also the movable screen or drape in a theatre that separates the stage from the auditorium or that serves as a backdrop/background.

Curtains are often hung on the inside of a building's windows to block the passage of light. For instance, at night to aid sleeping, or to stop light from escaping outside the building (stopping people outside from being able to see inside, often for privacy reasons). In this application, they are also known as "draperies". Curtains hung over a doorway are known as portières. Curtains come in a variety of shapes, materials, sizes, colours, and patterns. They often have their own sections within department stores, while some shops are completely dedicated to selling curtains.

Curtains vary according to cleanability, ultraviolet light deterioration, oil and dust retention, noise absorption, fire resistance, and life span. Curtains may be operated by hand, with cords, by press-button pads or remote-controlled computers. They are held out of the way of the window by means of curtain tie-backs. Measuring curtain sizes needed for each window varies greatly according to the type of curtain needed, window size, and type and weight of curtain.

Curtains are a form of window decor and complete the overall appearance of the interior of the house. Curtains help control the ambiance and flow of natural light into the room. The effect of drapery or curtains is best seen in daylight, and with proper indoor light positioning, can look attractive even at night.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtain

Examples of use of curtain

1. So it was realized by our stage manager, Lisa, that at the curtain call someone else would have to raise and lower the curtain.

2. Prescient words Stalin was furious at the Iron Curtain speech.

3. With a flourish, the military aide pulled back curtain No. 1 to reveal the first plaque, and curtain No. 2 to reveal the second plaque.

4. The playwright gives a touching direction at the end of Act I: "(Her tears and the curtain fall.)" Oh yes, I‘m sure I could do a weepy curtain.

5. The fire caught on the curtain, the charge alleges, and the curtain, a curtain pole, walls and a ceiling were damaged "and the lives of the patrons of the said hotel were endangered and this you did wilfully". The second charge alleges that he set fire to a curtain in the hotel‘s Yellow Room.