From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishcurbcurb1 /kɜːb $ kɜːrb/ ●○○ verb [transitive] STOP something THAT IS HAPPENINGto control or limit something in order to prevent it from having a harmful effect measures to curb the spread of the virus→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
curb• He basically defended the concept but acknowledged excesses that could be curbed.• One might have thought that this was the sort of heavy-handed executive action which the Constitutional Court was in business to curb.• The government is introducing new measures aimed at curbing inflation.• Although employment growth has been steady since the recession, government cutbacks will likely curb it.• The city is trying new measures to curb pollution.• On signal-bearing computer leads, twisted-wire coaxial cables curb some types of interference.• Opposition is most fierce in states such as California that have already found ways to curb the cost of treating Medicaid patients.• The only way to curb the spread of the disease is by immunizing the entire population.• An agreement is expected to send bond yields lower by curbing the supply of securities the Treasury sells to finance annual deficits.• It took some time for their masters to curb them.curbcurb2 noun [countable] 1 CONTROLan influence which helps to control or limit somethingcurb on We are trying to keep a curb on their activities.2 American EnglishTTR the raised edge of a road, between where people can walk and cars can drive SYN kerb British English → pavement, sidewalkExamples from the Corpus
curb• She was free of the shaming curbs of expedient morality.• The home-help walked down the road towards Marie, wheeling her bike which had been propped up against the curb.• Most are expected to show up at the airport Monday, depositing their cargoes at the curb.• A car was parked at the curb.• Stepping off the curb was all but impossible without hip-waders.• Whether the curbs on police investigation will reduce police influence on the outcome of the criminal process is not easy to determine.curb on• Right-wing politicians have called for a tight curb on immigration.From Longman Business Dictionarycurbcurb1 /kɜːbkɜːrb/ verb [transitive] to control or limit something that has a harmful effectThe new government’s priority is to curb inflation.→ See Verb tablecurbcurb2 noun [countable] a control or limit on somethingcurb onThe plan called for curbs on government spending.Origin curb2 (1400-1500) French courbe “curve, curved piece of wood or metal”, from Latin curvus; → CURVE2 