curtain

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A piece of cloth hung over a window or opening, usually to block light or keep people from seeing in.

   Grammar: Countable: use 'a curtain' or 'curtains' when talking about one or more pieces of hanging cloth.

   Patterns

   • draw the curtains
   • open the curtains
   • close the curtains

   She drew the curtains to keep the morning sun out of the bedroom.

   The curtains in the living room are old and faded.

   Please close the curtains before you turn on the lights.

2. 2nouncountable

   A large cloth screen at the front of a stage that is raised or lowered at the start and end of a performance.

   Grammar: Often used with 'the' when talking about the stage of a particular theater.

   Patterns

   • the curtain rises
   • the curtain falls
   • behind the curtain

   The curtain rose slowly, and the audience fell silent.

   The actors came back on stage after the curtain fell.

   We had seats near the front, close to the curtain.

3. 3nounsingulartechnical

   The time when a performance begins, especially in the phrase 'curtain at eight'.

   Grammar: Used mainly in theater schedules and announcements: 'curtain at 7:30'.

   Patterns

   • curtain at eight
   • curtain time

   The play has a curtain at eight, so we should arrive by half past seven.

   Curtain is at seven thirty, and latecomers will not be seated.

4. 4nouncountablefigurative

   Something that hides or separates, like a thick cloud or a wall of rain.

   Grammar: Used figuratively, often in phrases like 'a curtain of rain' or 'a curtain of secrecy'.

   Patterns

   • a curtain of rain
   • a curtain of secrecy
   • a curtain of smoke

   A curtain of rain moved across the valley.

   The government kept a curtain of secrecy around the talks.

Word forms

Common combinations

draw the curtains

He drew the curtains and the room went dark.

curtain call

The singer returned for a curtain call after the final song.

shower curtain

We need a new shower curtain; the old one is moldy.

behind the curtain

The wizard was just a man hiding behind a curtain.

curtain rises

The curtain rises at eight sharp.

Synonyms and how they differ

drape

A drape is usually a long, heavy curtain, often used in formal rooms or theaters.

blind

A blind is made of slats or a single sheet that rolls up, not cloth that hangs in folds.

shade

A shade is a window covering that pulls down, often made of cloth or paper, and is more common in American English.

Word family

curtained adjective

Having curtains, or covered by a curtain.

Commonly confused: curtain or certain?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “curtain”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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