curtain

A hanging piece of cloth that covers a window or door, or hides a stage.

• Please close the curtain.
• The curtains kept the bedroom dark.
• The stage curtain rose, and the actors appeared.

Similar words: drape

Common phrases: window curtain, stage curtain, close a curtain, bedroom curtain

A layer of something, such as water or smoke, that prevents you from seeing or passing through.

• A curtain of rain hid the hills.
• Smoke formed a thick curtain across the road.
• We walked behind the curtain of falling water.

How to use it: a curtain of something (A curtain of mist covered the valley.)

Similar words: screen, barrier

Common phrases: curtain of smoke, curtain of rain, curtain of water

The time when a theatre show begins.

• We arrived just before curtain.
• Curtain is at eight tonight.
• The actors were still getting dressed ten minutes before curtain.

Common phrases: before curtain, after curtain, curtain time

To hang cloth over or around something to cover it or separate it from another space.

• They curtained off a corner of the room.
• The small windows were curtained with blue fabric.
• We can curtain off the sleeping area.

How to use it: curtain something off (The nurse curtained the bed off.)

Similar words: screen, screen off

Common phrases: curtain off something, curtain a window