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curtain

   Also found in: Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia, Hutchinson 0.03 sec.
cur·tain  (kûrtn)
n.
1. Material that hangs in a window or other opening as a decoration, shade, or screen.
2. Something that functions as or resembles a screen, cover, or barrier: the curtain of mist before the mountain; a heavy curtain of artillery fire.
3.
a. The movable screen or drape in a theater or hall that separates the stage from the auditorium or that serves as a backdrop.
b. The rising or opening of a theater curtain at the beginning of a performance or act.
c. The time at which a theatrical performance begins or is scheduled to begin.
d. The fall or closing of a theater curtain at the end of a performance or act.
e. The concluding line, speech, or scene of a play or act.
4. The part of a rampart or parapet connecting two bastions or gates.
5. Architecture A curtain wall.
6. curtains Slang
a. The end.
b. Absolute ruin: "If the employee doesn't shape up, it's curtains" Business Week.
c. Death.
tr.v. cur·tained, cur·tain·ing, cur·tains
1. To provide (something) with or as if with a curtain.
2. To shut off (something) with or as if with a curtain.

[Middle English cortine, from Old French, from Late Latin crtna, from Latin crs, crt-, variant of cohors, court; see court.]

curtain
Noun
1. a piece of material hung at an opening or window to shut out light or to provide privacy
2. a hanging cloth that conceals all or part of a theatre stage from the audience
3. the end of a scene or a performance in the theatre, marked by the fall or closing of the curtain
4. the rise or opening of the curtain at the start of a performance
5. something forming a barrier or screen: a curtain of rain
Verb
1. to shut off or conceal with a curtain
2. to provide with curtains [Late Latin cortina]
ThesaurusLegend:  Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
Noun1.curtaincurtain - hanging cloth used as a blind (especially for a window)
screen, blind - a protective covering that keeps things out or hinders sight; "they had just moved in and had not put up blinds yet"
drop cloth, drop curtain, drop - a curtain that can be lowered and raised onto a stage from the flies; often used as background scenery
eyelet, eyehole - a small hole (usually round and finished around the edges) in cloth or leather for the passage of a cord or hook or bar
festoon - a curtain of fabric draped and bound at intervals to form graceful curves
frontal - a drapery that covers the front of an altar
furnishing - (usually plural) the instrumentalities (furniture and appliances and other movable accessories including curtains and rugs) that make a home (or other area) livable
portiere - a heavy curtain hung across a doorway
shower curtain - a curtain that keeps water from splashing out of the shower area
theater curtain, theatre curtain - a hanging cloth that conceals the stage from the view of the audience; rises or parts at the beginning and descends or closes between acts and at the end of a performance
2.curtain - any barrier to communication or vision; "a curtain of secrecy"; "a curtain of trees"
barrier - anything serving to maintain separation by obstructing vision or access
Verb1.curtain - provide with drapery; "curtain the bedrooms"
furnish, provide, supply, render - give something useful or necessary to; "We provided the room with an electrical heater"

curtain
noun hanging, drape chiefly U.S. portière
curtain something off conceal, screen, hide, veil, drape, shroud, shut off
Translations
Spanish curtain [ˈkəːtn] ncortina;
(THEAT) → telón m;
to draw the curtains (together) → cerrar las cortinas;
(apart) → abrir las cortinas

French curtain [ˈkəːtn] nrideau m;
to draw the curtains (together) → fermer or tirer les rideaux;
(apart) → ouvrir les rideaux

German curtain [ˈkəːtn] nVorhang m;
(net) → Gardine f;
to draw the curtains (together) → die Vorhänge zuziehen;
(apart) → die Vorhänge aufmachen

Italian curtain [ˈkəːtn] ntenda;
(THEAT) → sipario;
to draw the curtains (together) → chiudere or tirare le tende;
(apart) → aprire le tende

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As the manager of the Performance sits before the curtain on the boards and looks into the Fair, a feeling of profound melancholy comes over him in his survey of the bustling place.
Yes, I perceived that a corner of the curtain in your window had been looped up and fastened to the cornice as I had suggested should be done; and it seemed to me that your dear face was glimmering at the window, and that you were looking at me from out of the darkness of your room, and that you were thinking of me.
All you need do to let me know is to undo the cord holding the curtain of the 'right' gallery window, nearest to the dark closet.
 
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