ˈkə:tn n. & v. --n. 1 a
piece of
cloth etc.
hung up as a
screen, usu.
moveable sideways or upwards,
esp. at a
window or
between the stage and auditorium of a
theatre. 2 Theatr. a the
rise or
fall of the stage curtain at the
beginning or
end of an
act or
scene. b = curtain-call. 3 a
partition or
cover. 4 (in pl.) sl. the end. --v.tr. 1
furnish or cover
with a curtain or curtains. 2 (foll. by off)
shut off with a curtain or curtains. øcurtain-call Theatr. an audience's
summons to actor(s) to
take a bow
after the fall of the curtain. curtain-fire
Mil. a
concentration of
rapid and
continuous fire. curtain
lecture a wife's
private reproof to
her husband, orig.
behind bed-curtains. curtain-raiser 1 Theatr. a piece prefaced to the main
performance. 2 a
preliminary event. curtain-wall 1
Fortification the plain
wall of a fortified
place, connecting
two towers etc. 2 Archit. a piece of plain wall
not supporting a
roof. [ME f. OF cortine f. LL cortina transl. Gk aulaia f. aule court]
