curtain

noun

/ˈkɜːtn/

/ˈkɜːrtn/

Idioms

jump to other results

enlarge image

[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)
- She opened her curtains and looked out.
- It was ten in the morning but the curtains were still drawn (= closed).
- a pair of curtains
- She looked up and saw a face peering through the curtains.
see also drape
Extra Examples
- 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.
Topics Houses and homesb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- shower
- closed
- drawn
- …
verb + curtain
- close
- draw
- open
- …
curtain + verb
- hang
- billow
- blow
- …
curtain + noun
- rail
- rod
preposition
- behind a/the curtain
See full entry
[countable] (North American English)
(British English net curtain)
a very thin piece of cloth that you hang at a window and that allows light to enter but stops people outside from being able to see inside
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- shower
- closed
- drawn
- …
verb + curtain
- close
- draw
- open
- …
curtain + verb
- hang
- billow
- blow
- …
curtain + noun
- rail
- rod
preposition
- behind a/the curtain
See full entry
[countable] a piece of cloth that is hung up as a screen in a room or around a bed, for example
- a shower curtain
- He took a bag from a shelf behind some curtains.
see also Iron Curtain
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- shower
- closed
- drawn
- …
verb + curtain
- close
- draw
- open
- …
curtain + verb
- hang
- billow
- blow
- …
curtain + noun
- rail
- rod
preposition
- behind a/the curtain
See full entry
[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).
- The curtain goes up to reveal a grand piano at the back of the stage.
- There was tremendous applause when the curtain came down (= the play ended).
- We left just before the final curtain (= the end of a play).
- (figurative) It's time to face the final curtain (= the end; death).
- (figurative) The curtain has fallen on her long and distinguished career (= her career has ended).
see also drop curtain, safety curtain
Wordfinder
- backdrop
- costume
- curtain
- footlights
- prop
- proscenium
- scenery
- set
- stage
- the wings
Topics Film and theatreb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- final
curtain + verb
- go up
- open
- part
- …
See full entry
[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’.

Idioms

be curtains (for somebody)

(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.

bring down the curtain on something | bring the curtain down on something

to finish or mark the end of something
- His sudden decision to retire brought down the curtain on a distinguished career.