curtain — a piece of cloth that hangs across or in front of something to hide, cover, or decorate it
Part of speech: NOUN
Definition: a piece of cloth that hangs across or in front of something to hide, cover, or decorate it
Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈkɜːrtən/
Example Sentences
- The theater curtain rose to reveal a stage full of dancing penguins.
- My cat thinks the curtain is his personal climbing wall.
- She peeked through the curtain to see who was at the door.
curtain
NOUN[/ˈkɜːrtən/]
a piece of cloth that hangs across or in front of something to hide, cover, or decorate it
She pulls the curtain aside to let morning sunlight flood the room.
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from 13th-century Old French cortine, which came from Latin cortina, originally meaning a rounded cloth covering for a cauldron or pot. The meaning evolved from a cloth used to conceal an altar to eventually denote a cloth hung to cover windows.
Breakdown
Latin cortina (cloth covering, curtain) → Old French cortine → Middle English curtain, with the -ine/-ain suffix typical of Old French noun forms.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The theater curtain rose to reveal a stage full of dancing penguins.”
“My cat thinks the curtain is his personal climbing wall.”
“She peeked through the curtain to see who was at the door.”
“The meeting was held behind a curtain of secrecy.”
“When I tried to be dramatic and close the curtain, I got tangled up in it instead.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.