smoke curtain

Meanings

1. 1nouncountabletechnicalmilitary

   A dense wall of smoke used to hide people, vehicles, or positions from view.

   Grammar: Countable: one smoke curtain, several smoke curtains.

   Patterns

   • lay a smoke curtain
   • a smoke curtain over something

   The troops laid a smoke curtain across the valley to cover their retreat.

   From the ridge, we could see a thick smoke curtain hiding the harbor.

   Firefighters used a smoke curtain to keep the corridor clear of fumes.

2. 2nouncountabletechnical

   A barrier of smoke or fumes that keeps smoke from spreading through a building.

   Grammar: Countable; often used with 'fire' or 'safety' in front.

   Patterns

   • a fire smoke curtain
   • install a smoke curtain

   The new safety code requires a smoke curtain above every open stairwell.

   A smoke curtain can stop deadly gases from reaching the upper floors.

Word forms

Common combinations

lay a smoke curtain

The soldiers laid a smoke curtain before crossing the open field.

a thick smoke curtain

A thick smoke curtain rose from the burning warehouse.

behind a smoke curtain

The convoy moved behind a smoke curtain.

smoke curtain system

The theater was fitted with a smoke curtain system.

Synonyms and how they differ

smokescreen

Smokescreen is the more common everyday word and can also mean a deliberate distraction; smoke curtain is more technical and usually refers to a physical barrier of smoke.

smoke barrier

Smoke barrier is a building-safety term for a physical screen that blocks smoke; a smoke curtain can also be made of actual smoke.

Word family

smokescreen noun

A cloud of smoke used for hiding, or an action meant to confuse people.

Commonly confused: smoke curtain or smokescreen?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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