- 1 [countable] a piece of cloth that is hung to cover a window 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 see also drape Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveshower, closed, drawn, … verb + curtainclose, draw, open, … curtain + verbhang, billow, blow, … curtain + nounrail, rod prepositionbehind a/the curtain See full entry See related entries: Furniture
- 2[countable] (North American English) (British English net curtain) 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 Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveshower, closed, drawn, … verb + curtainclose, draw, open, … curtain + verbhang, billow, blow, … curtain + nounrail, rod prepositionbehind a/the curtain See full entry
- 3 [countable] a piece of cloth that is hung up as a screen in a room or around a bed, for example a shower curtain see also Iron Curtain Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectiveshower, closed, drawn, … verb + curtainclose, draw, open, … curtain + verbhang, billow, blow, … curtain + nounrail, rod prepositionbehind a/the curtain See full entry
- 4 [singular] 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. (figurative) The curtain has fallen on her long and distinguished career (= her career has ended). (figurative) It's time to face the final curtain (= the end; death). Wordfinderstagebackdrop, costume, curtain, footlights, prop, proscenium, scenery, set, stage, the wings Oxford Collocations Dictionary adjectivefinal curtain + verbgo up, open, part, … See full entry See related entries: In the theatre
- 5[countable, usually singular] a thing that covers, hides or protects something a curtain of rain/smoke She pushed back the curtain of brown hair from her eyes. Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French cortine, from late Latin cortina, translation of Greek aulaia, from aulē ‘court’.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.Idioms
(informal) 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.
to finish or mark the end of something His sudden decision to retire brought down the curtain on a distinguished career.
Check pronunciation: curtain
