curtain draw

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   The act of pulling curtains open or closed, or the way they move when pulled.

   Grammar: Countable when it means one act or one movement: a curtain draw, two curtain draws.

   Patterns

   • a curtain draw
   • the curtain draw

   The curtain draw took only a second, and the room went dark.

   She checked the curtain draw on the new rail and found it very smooth.

2. 2nouncountable

   A cord, rod, or handle used to pull a curtain, especially one fixed beside a window.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with a possessive or a modifier such as window or side.

   Patterns

   • a curtain draw
   • the window curtain draw
   • pull the curtain draw

   He reached for the curtain draw and slid the drapes shut.

   The curtain draw on the left side was missing, so the fabric would not close.

3. 3nouncountabletechnical

   In theater, the moment when the main curtain is pulled open at the start of a performance.

   Grammar: Countable and mainly used in theater contexts; often appears with the or a.

   Patterns

   • the curtain draw
   • at the curtain draw

   The audience fell silent at the curtain draw.

   Her cue came just before the curtain draw.

Common combinations

smooth curtain draw

The smooth curtain draw impressed everyone in the showroom.

curtain draw cord

He replaced the broken curtain draw cord with a longer one.

curtain draw rod

A curtain draw rod lets you open the drapes without touching the fabric.

at the curtain draw

The actors took their places at the curtain draw.

Synonyms and how they differ

curtain pull

Very close in meaning, but curtain pull is more common for the cord or handle, while curtain draw can also mean the action itself.

drapery pull

Used mainly in American English for the hardware; it does not usually refer to the movement of the curtains.

Word family

curtain noun

The piece of cloth that hangs over a window or stage.

draw verb

To pull something, such as a curtain, in a particular direction.

drawing noun

The act of pulling something, as in the drawing of the curtains.

Commonly confused: curtain draw or draw curtains?

Practice

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