curtain

[ kur-tn ]

noun

1. a hanging piece of fabric used to shut out the light from a window, adorn a room, increase privacy, etc.

   Synonyms: valance, lambrequin, portiere, drapery

2. a movable or folding screen used for similar purposes.
3. Chiefly New England. a window shade.
4. Theater.
   1. a set of hanging drapery for concealing all or part of the stage or set from the view of the audience.
   2. the act or time of raising or opening a curtain at the start of a performance:

      an 8:30 curtain.

   3. the end of a scene or act indicated by the closing or falling of a curtain:

      first-act curtain.

   4. an effect, line, or plot solution at the conclusion of a performance:

      a strong curtain; weak curtain.

   5. music signaling the end of a radio or television performance.
   6. (used as a direction in a script of a play to indicate that a scene or act is concluded.)
5. anything that shuts off, covers, or conceals:

   a curtain of artillery fire.

6. Architecture. a relatively flat or featureless extent of wall between two pavilions or the like.
7. Fortification. the part of a wall or rampart connecting two bastions, towers, or the like.
8. curtains, Slang. the end; death, especially by violence:

   It looked like curtains for another mobster.

verb (used with object)

1. to provide, shut off, conceal, or adorn with, or as if with, a curtain.

curtain

/ ˈkɜːtən /

noun

1. a piece of material that can be drawn across an opening or window, to shut out light or to provide privacy
2. a barrier to vision, access, or communication

   a curtain of secrecy

3. a hanging cloth or similar barrier for concealing all or part of a theatre stage from the audience
4. the curtain
   the end of a scene of a play, opera, etc, marked by the fall or closing of the curtain
5. the rise or opening of the curtain at the start of a performance

verb

1. trsometimes foll byoff to shut off or conceal with or as if with a curtain
2. tr to provide (a window, etc) with curtains

Other Words From

• curtain·less adjective
• un·curtained adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of curtain¹

1250–1300; Middle English co ( u ) rtine < Anglo-French, Old French < Late Latin cortīna, probably equivalent to co ( ho ) rt- (stem of cohors; court ) + -īna -ine ¹, as calque of Greek aulaía curtain, derivative of aulḗ courtyard

Word History and Origins

Origin of curtain¹

C13: from Old French courtine, from Late Latin cortīna enclosed place, curtain, probably from Latin cohors courtyard

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. draw the curtain on / over,
   1. to bring to a close:

      to draw the curtain on a long career of public service.

   2. to keep secret.
2. lift the curtain on,
   1. to commence; start.
   2. to make known or public; disclose:

      to lift the curtain on a new scientific discovery.

More idioms and phrases containing curtain

• draw the curtain
• raise the curtain
• ring down the curtain

Synonym Study

Curtain, blind, shade, shutter agree in being covers for a window, to shut out light or keep persons from looking in. Curtain, blind, and shade may mean a cover, usually of cloth, which can be rolled up and down inside the window. Curtain, however, may also refer to a drapery at a window; and a Venetian blind consists of slats mounted on tapes for drawing up or down and varying the pitch of the slats. Blind and shutter may mean a cover made of two wooden frames with movable slats, attached by hinges outside a window and pulled together or opened at will. Shutters may mean also a set of panels (wooden or iron) put up outside small shops or stores at closing time

Example Sentences

He's like, "I want to be the guy behind the curtain."

From BBC

As the clock ticks closer to the 8 p.m. curtain time, the lobby more clearly resembles a house party — a chatty, mingling crowd, flashing colorful lights and flowing red wine.

From Los Angeles Times

I stood behind the curtain, my palms suddenly sweating, my heartbeat galloping in my ears.

From Salon

I stood behind the curtain, my palms suddenly sweating, my heartbeat galloping in my ears.

From Salon

Going back several decades for its setting is something Bennie is a fan of, particularly as he likes Black Ops games which contain things happening "behind the curtain", and wants to see how that will play into this setting.

From BBC

Related Words

• decoration
• drape
• drapery
• screen
• shade
• shroud
• shutter
• veil