curtain1 nouncurtain2 verb
curtaincur‧tain1 /ˈkɜːtn $ ˈkɜːrtn/ ●●● S3 W3 noun [countable] 
WORD ORIGINcurtain
Origin:
1200-1300 Old French curtine, from Late Latin cortina, from Latin cohors ‘enclosure, court’; ➔ COHORTEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- A dense curtain of fog caused traffic problems.
- a shower curtain
- Before the curtain went up, the dancers took their places on the stage.
- A breeze blows the white curtains in on either side of her, two ghostly arms embracing her.
- In the corner of the room is a large bed hung with a dark musty surrounding curtain.
- In the drapery room, for example, the formations hang from the ceiling like curtains.
- It is available in three depths to suit all lengths of curtain.
- There was a filthy shroud of cobweb across it, but no curtain beyond.
WORD SETS
airbed, nounair conditioning, nounair freshener, nounappliance, nounbachelor flat, nounback-to-back, nounbackyard, nounballcock, nounbar, nounbarn, nounbarrow, nounbaseboard, nounbasket, nounbay window, nounbeater, nounbedclothes, nounbedding, nounbed linen, nounbedspread, nounbidet, nounblade, nounbleach, nounboard, verbboarding, nounbobbin, nounbog, nounbog roll, nounbolt, nounbolt, verbboom box, nounboudoir, nounbow window, nounbric-a-brac, nounbutler, nouncarpet, nouncarpet, verbcarpeting, nouncasket, nouncement, nouncentral heating, nouncentrepiece, nounchamber, nounchamber pot, nounchange purse, nounchimney breast, nounchimney-piece, nounChristmas stocking, nounChristmas tree, nouncloth, nouncoal, nouncoal scuttle, nouncolour scheme, nouncomforter, nounconvection oven, nounconvector, nouncooker, nouncooler, nouncounterpane, nouncreosote, nouncubbyhole, nouncurtain, nouncurtain hook, nouncushion, noundaily, noundefrost, verbden, noundesk tidy, noundes res, noundetergent, noundimmer, noundomestic, adjectivedomestic, noundomesticated, adjectivedomesticity, noundomestic science, noundomestic service, noundoor, noundormer, noundraughty, adjectivedrive, noundriveway, noundrop cloth, nounduplex, noundust, nounduvet, noundwelling, noundwelling house, nounearthen, adjectiveeggshell, nounempties, nounfire alarm, nounfirelighter, nounflock, nounflooring, nounfluff, nounflush, verbflypaper, nounflyswatter, nounfold, verbfootman, noungarage sale, noungarbage, noungasman, noungas meter, noungate, noungatehouse, noungatepost, noungateway, noungauze, noungingham, nounglass, nounglaze, verbglazing, noungrating, noungroan, verbguardrail, noungutter, nounguttering, nounhall, nounhallway, nounhandkerchief, nounhandyman, nounhang, verbhanging, nounhardware, nounheat, nounheatproof, adjectiveheat-resistant, adjectiveheirloom, nounhelper, nounhot-water bottle, nounhouseboy, nounhousekeeper, nounhousemaid, nounhousewares, nounhumidifier, nounhurricane lamp, nounimmersion, nounimmersion heater, nouninlaid, adjectiveinlay, nouninsulation, nouninterior decorator, nounionizer, nounironwork, nounjumble, nounjumble sale, nounkeepsake, nounkeyhole, nounknocker, nounlag, verblagging, nounlanding, nounlaundry basket, nounlinen, nounloo, nounmaid, nounmaidservant, nounmailbox, nounmajordomo, nounmanor, nounmantelpiece, nounmasking tape, nounmirror, nounmosquito net, nounmote, nounmothball, nounmoulding, nounmouth, nounmove, nounmoving van, nounmullion, nounnewspaper, nounniche, nounnonflammable, adjectivenook, nounobjet d'art, nounodd-job man, nounoilcloth, nounoil-fired, adjectiveornament, nounouthouse, nounoverflow, nounpad, nounpail, nounpaint, nounpaint, verbpaintbrush, nounpainting, nounpalatial, adjectivepaling, nounpalisade, nounpanel, nounpanelled, adjectivepantile, nounpaper, nounpaper, verbpartition, nounparty wall, nounpasskey, nounpaste, nounpatina, nounpebbledash, nounpegboard, nounpencil, nounpencil sharpener, nounpendulum, nounpension, nounpercale, nounpicture rail, nounpiggy-bank, nounpillowcase, nounpin, nounpincushion, nounplace card, nounplace mat, nounplastic wrap, nounplug, nounplughole, nounplumbing, nounplunger, nounpoker, nounpomander, nounpotpourri, nounpress, nounprivy, nounproperty, nounpunkah, nounQ-tip, nounqueen-size, adjectivequilted, adjectiverail, nounrailing, nounrake, verbrambling, adjectiveramp, nounredecorate, verbrelay, verbremote, nounremote control, nounretainer, nounribbon development, nounroller blind, nounrug, nounrumpus room, nounsafety match, nounsanitation worker, nounsconce, nounScotch tape, nounscrapbook, nounscrap paper, nounscreen, nounscreen door, nounscrew, nounscrew top, nounscullery, nounscuttle, nounSellotape, nounsheet, nounshelving, nounshower, nounshutter, nounshuttered, adjectivesink, nounskirting board, nounsliding door, nounsoft furnishings, nounspiral staircase, nounspittoon, nounsponge bag, nounsteam iron, nounstitch, verbstitching, nounstopcock, nounstorage heater, nounstove, nounstripper, nounsump, nounswag, nounswing door, nountablecloth, nountable linen, nountable mat, nountableware, nountaper, nountapestry, nountarpaulin, nountelevision, nountelly, nounterrycloth, nounthinner, nounthrowaway, adjectivethumbtack, nountinsel, nountoilet, nountowel, nountowel rail, nountransistor radio, nountrash can, nountrash compactor, nountread, nountrunk, nountub, nountumble dryer, noununfurnished, adjectivevalance, nounvarnish, nounvase, nounVenetian blind, nounwalk-in, adjectivewall, noun-ware, suffixwastepaper basket, nounwater closet, nounway out, nounWC, nounweathercock, nounweather vane, nounwhite spirit, nounwick, nounwind chimes, nounwindow, nounwindow box, nounwindowpane, nounwindowsill, nounwipe, nounwoodpile, nounwoodshed, nounwrapper, nounwrapping, nounwrapping paper, nounyard, nounyard sale, noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs
net curtainsCOLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
(=close them)· The room was dark because the curtains were drawn.
(=open them)· Would you mind opening the curtains?
· Bright red curtains hung cheerfully at all the windows.
(=fix new curtains at a window)· She was standing on a ladder hanging some new curtains.
ADJECTIVES/NOUN + curtain (=made of thick material)· Heavy curtains help to keep the house warm.
(=made of velvet, net etc)
(=for keeping the water in the shower)
curtain + NOUN (=a long stick for hanging a curtain)· Velvet can be heavy so choose a strong curtain pole.
(=for making curtains)· I need to go to town to buy some curtain fabric.
(=for attaching curtains to a rail)· The curtain has loops, so you don't need curtain hooks.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES (=an amount of mist that prevents you seeing something clearly)· We looked up, through the veil of mist, at the waterfall.
net curtains· The action must take place against a backdrop of some description, even if it it is a blank black curtain.· In San Jose a stage with black leather curtains waited; they were the only passengers.· She stood for a moment behind the thick black curtain, unwilling to pull it aside.· Silence fell like a black curtain.· A black curtain hung in my mind.· The tiny window had dusty, sagging black curtains which he guessed must be black-out curtains from the Second World War.
· Rozanov sat on the floor, his back against the drawn curtains.· Shapes moved against the drawn curtains of the room beyond, and a few seconds later the girl came forward into the light.· The Rectory's windows glowed behind drawn curtains.· Warm Frosts Many house plants freeze to death when left on windowsills at night behind drawn curtains.· He walked quickly past the windows with the drawn curtains to the far end of the house.· Some few still showed the tell-tale signs of multiple occupation, dishevelled lawns, peeling paint and drawn secretive curtains.· There were to be no drawn curtains, no signs of mourning, and certainly no black ties.· The room was stuffy, the hot August sunshine beating against the drawn curtains.
· At Anfield last Saturday they made the final curtain safely, but it was a close thing.· That would seem to wrap it up, with nothing left but a final curtain call.· After the final curtain he went to the local hospital to have the wound attended to.· Otherwise the High Court will order the final curtain to fall on one of motorsports most famous names.· As their celebrations continue more facts emerge with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing up to the final curtain.· No quick steps, no pounce, no final curtain.
· A vivid light flared outside, bright enough to penetrate the heavy curtains.· I looked out the window, which was cov-ered by a heavy curtain.· As they watched in horror, they saw flames eating their way up one of the heavy curtains.· She lifted it aside - it felt like a heavy curtain - and still could not see anything.· Hang a heavy curtain over the front door to make the hall warmer.· I put out my hand and touched a soft, heavy curtain.· Hang heavy curtains or curtains with thermal linings.· To his right was a heavy curtain behind which prosecution witnesses could be concealed.
· He walked to the chair and looked through the grubby net curtain.· In all of them hang net curtains.· He walked to the window and gazed down through the net curtains.· Neighbours had watched discreetly through parted net curtains.· The net curtains were planets of watery growth.· Outside, the once-respectable semis have crooked To Let signs and greying net curtains.· A net curtain stirs at the window, diffusing the sharpness of the outside world.· Beyond the window, a screen whose net curtains looked poised to fall, Karen heard voices.
· They stopped after a few more minutes and Lily peeped around the open curtain.· Fascinated, she drew open the curtains to let in more light.· It was open, the curtain wet and blowing.· Window wide open, no curtains and a narrow iron bedstead that looked no more comfortable than the one he had himself.
· All those red velvet curtains and golden tassels, and settees with little golden legs.· The churches are painted an earthy red, with red domes and cupolas, and thick red velvet curtains decorate the insides.· The Volvo, whose windows wind down to reveal plush red curtains, is surrounded by stepladders.· The audience cheered loudly as the red velvet curtains danced apart and revealed the tenor.· The Emperor rode on a finely bedecked mule led by six pages, and was concealed behind red curtains carried on poles.· Programmes set within living memory give us a chance to peep behind the red velvet curtains of the upper classes.· Bright red gingham curtains hung cheerfully at all the windows.
· Those across the way claimed ringside seats on wooden chairs, each sitter shielded by a thick cotton-lace curtain.· It was impossible to see more than twenty yards in any direction through the thick grey curtain of falling water.· But it was there, just the same, like prying eyes peering round the corner of a thick curtain.· She stood for a moment behind the thick black curtain, unwilling to pull it aside.· The intimate restaurant concealed behind thick curtains is tastefully decorated in art-nouveau style.
· As the action proper begins, Poseidon and Athene rush a white curtain round the perimeter of the auditorium.· Lacy white curtains fluttered at open windows, and washable slipcovers in white or pale shades covered the upholstery.· The thin white curtain, pulled back, fluttered in the cool air.· A breeze blows the white curtains in on either side of her, two ghostly arms embracing her.· Yellow men out of the white curtain of light.· Helen noticed a red rug, piles of books on the floor, white eyelet cafe curtains on the windows.· I've put the white & green curtains in your room instead of the beige ones - a great improvement.· Now she longed for a set of white frilly curtains.
NOUN· Doors that swing inwards present the problem of curtain fabric interfering with the operation of the doors.· It is now necessary to spread your half pattern to fit the width of the curtain fabric as shown in fig. 50b.· You will need the same amount of lining as outer curtain fabric, less allowance for pattern matching.· Attaching interlining Lay curtain fabric out flat with wrong side uppermost.· They'd murder each other over the choice of curtain fabric if they could get away with it.
· The gate handle clicked sharply and she drew aside the lace curtain.· The lace curtains seemed to have survived from obscurity, like the antique gown of a jilted bride.· She saw a lift in the lace curtain and wondered whether Billy had his woman with him.· Beside us the lace curtains bellied in with a faint breeze, then hung inert.· He gazed upwards until a lace curtain flicked back and he realised an elderly woman with white hair was studying him suspiciously.· And still others were decorated with lace curtains, tied carefully back.· Across the street a lace curtain twitched.· By the twenties, lace curtains and an aspidistra in the window were bad omens.
· If you do not want to use a pelmet, curtain rails and poles can also provide great visual variety.
· Then, through a gap in the shower curtain, he saw a dark shape.· Jen said, sweeping aside the shower curtain and sitting down on the edge of the tub.· There was a shadow on the shower curtain, a human-shape holding something in an upraised arm.· This reminded me I needed to replace my shower curtains.· It was true that the shower curtain should have been renewed.· There was laundry hanging all along the shower curtain rod.· The shower curtain market is changing rapidly.· As you are painfully aware, when it comes to being handy, I can barely work a shower curtain.
· Prints of hunting and racing scenes, dark maroon velvet curtains and hardly any women to be seen.· All those red velvet curtains and golden tassels, and settees with little golden legs.· Her bedroom was darkened, brown velvet curtains pulled to against the daylight.· Carpets were thick underfoot and solid velvet curtains hung at the windows, parted just sufficiently to admit a little starlight.· The audience cheered loudly as the red velvet curtains danced apart and revealed the tenor.· The vanished behind a velvet curtain.· Red velvet curtains closed out the Devon night, and the bar was awash with the drunken summer school intelligentsia.· Heavy dark green velvet curtains were partly drawn across these and allowed only a single column of light to enter the room.
VERB· Woolworth Corp. executives brought the curtain down Thursday on the venerable but money-losing chain of 400 five-and-dime stores.· Now I think we should bring down the curtain on this little episode, and go to bed.
· I closed the curtains around the bed, and felt safe from Heathcliff and everyone else at Wuthering Heights.· The door was closed, the curtains drawn against the morning sunlight.· He closed the curtains and I waited for him to come out to his car.
· The gate handle clicked sharply and she drew aside the lace curtain.· He went quickly through the house to the front room and drew back the curtains.· Sir George drew the curtains, and motioned Roland and Maud to sit down by the fire, in the velvet chairs.· She got out of bed and drew back the curtains, letting in the sun.· When she stopped having accidents, she would withdraw into her room and draw the curtains and complain of headache.· He had scarcely had time to draw the curtains when there was a small, familiar tap at the door.· He stood and went to the window to draw the curtain.
· Parting the hanging curtains of the doorway, he entered another world.· I smiled at him and pointed to my hair, hanging like a curtain over the back of the bed.· In all of them hang net curtains.· I can hang curtains around the cots.· Fit draught excluders to the bottoms of doors. Hang a heavy curtain over the front door to make the hall warmer.· I dislike the acts who hang on to the curtains, dripping sweat and beg you to applaud their efforts.
· I scuttled backwards and hid behind the curtains.· Downstairs, I hid behind the parlor curtain and watched the street.· She was breathless, shivering with cold as she hid herself behind the curtains of the four-poster.· Once, during a party, she hid behind the curtains and kicked at his ankle as he passed.· A huge part of the real Mr Kinnock remains hidden behind the curtains that segregate his private jet.· Life was always hidden behind curtains and doors, at home.· She whispered that the Devil hid behind the curtains, a red devil with a feathery red tail.· His life was hidden behind floral curtains.
· There is one place only where he lifts the curtain.· She plops down on the empty cot and lifts a curtain to peer out the window.· Mr Rochester lifted the curtain, opened the secret door and showed us the little room.· He lifted the curtain to his lips, kissed it tenderly, and then turned to his audience.
· A woman in her early fifties parted beige curtains on the inside door and peered out at him.· Omar Duvall had gone to the window over the sink and parted the water-stained curtain.· And on this silent parting the curtain fell.
· Athelstan pulled the curtain back and wrinkled his nose at the smell.· When you come right down to it, I neither pulled the curtain nor turned off the light.· He pulled back a curtain revealing a brick wall close outside the window.· Squirt pulled back the curtain and went out.· The effort of pulling back the curtain brought a renewed stab of pain.· At the top she would lead him into a booth and pull the curtain shut behind him.· He pulled back one curtain and looked at his watch.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
1a piece of hanging cloth that can be pulled across to cover a window, divide a room etc: - Now I think we should bring down the curtain on this little episode, and go to bed.
- And will it be curtains for Coombs in Swindon?
- But does it have to be Curtains for you and me?
- Could you pull the blinds, please?
- I dragged her over to the side of the stage and began pulling the curtains.
- It was getting dark so he pulled the curtains and put on the overhead light.
- Marie pulls the curtains back and steps out.
- She waited until the door was closed and then crossed to the window of her suite, pulling the curtains aside.
- What we do is, pull the curtains shut and switch on the fire.
- When we got to the room she went to pull the curtains.
red velvet curtainsdraw/close/pull the curtains Ella drew the curtains and switched the light on.draw back/open the curtains Shall I open the curtains?curtain rail/pole/rod (=for hanging a curtain on)2a sheet of heavy material that comes down at the front of the stage in a theatrethe curtain goes up/rises Before the curtain went up, the dancers took their places on stage.the curtain comes down/falls3 written a thick layer of something that stops anything behind it from being seencurtain of a curtain of smoke4bring down the curtain on something informal to cause or mark the end of a situation or period of time: The decision brought down the curtain on a 30-year career.5(it’ll) be curtains for somebody/something informal used to say that someone will die or that something will endCOLLOCATIONSverbsdraw/close/pull the curtains (=close them)· The room was dark because the curtains were drawn.open/draw (back)/pull back the curtains (=open them)· Would you mind opening the curtains?curtains hang· Bright red curtains hung cheerfully at all the windows.put up/hang curtains (=fix new curtains at a window)· She was standing on a ladder hanging some new curtains.ADJECTIVES/NOUN + curtainheavy/thick curtains (=made of thick material)· Heavy curtains help to keep the house warm.velvet/net/lace etc curtains (=made of velvet, net etc)a shower curtain (=for keeping the water in the shower)curtain + NOUNa curtain rail/pole/rod (=a long stick for hanging a curtain)· Velvet can be heavy so choose a strong curtain pole.curtain fabric/material (=for making curtains)· I need to go to town to buy some curtain fabric.curtain hooks (=for attaching curtains to a rail)· The curtain has loops, so you don't need curtain hooks.curtain1 nouncurtain2 verb
curtaincurtain2 verb VERB TABLE
curtain
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | curtain |
| he, she, it | curtains | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | curtained |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have curtained |
| he, she, it | has curtained | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had curtained |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will curtain |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have curtained |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am curtaining |
| he, she, it | is curtaining | |
| you, we, they | are curtaining | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was curtaining |
| you, we, they | were curtaining | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been curtaining |
| he, she, it | has been curtaining | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been curtaining |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be curtaining |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been curtaining |
EXAMPLES FROM THE CORPUS
- Behind him, the windows were curtained with white cotton, receding on a brass bar into the corner.
- Spread throughout the pond, seven pale piles of limbs, bared teeth, faces curtained off by their hair.
- The windows were curtained in heavy velvet.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES net curtains
(=an amount of mist that prevents you seeing something clearly)· We looked up, through the veil of mist, at the waterfall.
net curtainsPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES
curtain something ↔ off phrasal verb to separate one area, room etc from another by hanging a curtain between them: - Could you pull the blinds, please?
- I dragged her over to the side of the stage and began pulling the curtains.
- It was getting dark so he pulled the curtains and put on the overhead light.
- Marie pulls the curtains back and steps out.
- She waited until the door was closed and then crossed to the window of her suite, pulling the curtains aside.
- What we do is, pull the curtains shut and switch on the fire.
- When we got to the room she went to pull the curtains.
The room was curtained off by red drapes.