curb en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- /kɜːb/ (Received-Pronunciation)
- /kɝb/ (General-American)
- (Southern-England) audio
Etymology
From Middle French courbe (“curve, curved object”), from Latin curvus (“bent, crooked, curved”). Doublet of curve.
Meanings
- (US) A concrete margin along the edge of a road; a kerb (UK, Australia, New Zealand).
- (US) A raised margin along the edge of something, such as a well or the eye of a dome, as a strengthening.
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(US, figuratively) Something that checks or restrains; a restraint.
The same also is that burning mention’d by S. Paul, whereof mariage ought to be the remedy; the Flesh hath other naturall and easie curbs which are in the power of any temperate man..
1643, John Milton, Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce:She maintains that the internet should face similar curbs to TV because young people are increasingly living online. "It's totally different, someone at Google watching the video from the comfort of their office in San Francisco to someone from a council house in London, where this video is happening right outside their front door."
2012 April 19, Josh Halliday, “Free speech haven or lawless cesspool – can the internet be civilised?”, in The Guardian:Even by theſe Men, Religion, that ſhould be / The curb, is made the ſpur to tyranny: / They with their double key of conſcience bind / The Subjects ſouls, and leave Kings unconfin'd; […]
1641 (first performance), [John Denham], The Sophy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1667, →OCLC, Act IV, pages [44A]–45:
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(US) A riding or driving bit for a horse that has rein action which amplifies the pressure in the mouth by leverage advantage placing pressure on the poll by means of the crown piece of the bridle and chin groove by means of a curb chain.
He that before ran in the pastures wild / Felt the stiff curb controul his angry jaws.
1605, Michael Drayton, The Fourth Eclogue:Captain went out in the cab all the morning. Harry came in after school to feed me and give me water. In the afternoon I was put into the cab. Jerry took as much pains to see if the collar and bridle fitted comfortably, as if he had been John Manly over again. When the crupper was let out a hole or two, it all fitted well. There was no bearing rein—no curb—nothing but a plain ring snaffle. What a blessing that was!
[1877], Anna Sewell, “A London Cab Horse”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC, part III, page 158:
- (Canada, US) A sidewalk, covered or partially enclosed, bordering the airport terminal road system with adjacent paved areas to permit vehicles to off-load or load passengers.
- (US) A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, just behind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| kerb | UK, alternative | lexicographic | |
| kirb | alternative, obsolete | lexicographic | |
| curbs | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
curb bulb · curb cut effect · sausage curb · curb market · curb cut · curb appeal · trading curb · curb ramp · curb weight · roof curb · curb bulge · curb-appeal · curb strip · curbside · curb extension · curbless · curb chain · kick to the curb · curb service · curb number · turtle curb · curb-roofed · curb crawler · curb roof · curb-bit · curb bit · bite the curb · curbstone
Synonyms
Translations (104)
cs obrubník (raised margin along the edge) · es sardinel (concrete along the edge of a road) · sv trottoarkant (concrete along the edge of a road) · nl kering (something that checks or restrains) · cs omezení (something that checks or restrains) · fi jalkakäytävän reuna (concrete along the edge of a road) · ko 갓돌 (concrete along the edge of a road) · uk бордю́р (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Steinrand (concrete along the edge of a road) · pt freio (something that checks or restrains) · de Flansch (raised margin along the edge) · de Zwang (something that checks or restrains) · nl hindernis (something that checks or restrains) · de Aufkantung (raised margin along the edge) · sk obruba (raised margin along the edge) · de Drosselung (something that checks or restrains) · de Einhalt (something that checks or restrains) · bg юзда́ (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · be бардзю́р (concrete along the edge of a road) · pt meio-fio (concrete along the edge of a road) · fa افسار (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · pl krawężnik (concrete along the edge of a road) · mi paeara (concrete along the edge of a road) · fi reuna (raised margin along the edge) · sk lem (raised margin along the edge) · de Grat (raised margin along the edge) · fa جدول (concrete along the edge of a road) · sk lemovanie (raised margin along the edge) · de Bordkante (concrete along the edge of a road) · fr bordure du trottoir (concrete along the edge of a road) · pt lancil (concrete along the edge of a road) · mk раб (concrete along the edge of a road) · ko 연석 (concrete along the edge of a road) · ro bordură (concrete along the edge of a road) · ka ბორდიური (concrete along the edge of a road) · ota بلازك (raised margin along the edge) · fi reunus (raised margin along the edge) · it cordolo (concrete along the edge of a road) · bg спира́чка (something that checks or restrains) · hu járdaszegély (concrete along the edge of a road) · fr bordure (concrete along the edge of a road) · it orlo del marciapiede (concrete along the edge of a road) · cs udidlo (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · ja 縁石 (concrete along the edge of a road) · ca vorada (concrete along the edge of a road) · es freno (something that checks or restrains) · ca rastell (concrete along the edge of a road) · fi este (something that checks or restrains) · bg бордюр (concrete along the edge of a road) · gd srian (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · de Mäßigung (something that checks or restrains) · id kereb (concrete along the edge of a road) · fi reunakiveys (concrete along the edge of a road) · gl bordo (concrete along the edge of a road) · fi rajoitin (something that checks or restrains) · es bordillo (concrete along the edge of a road) · fo kantsteinur (concrete along the edge of a road) · pt guia (concrete along the edge of a road) · cy ymyl palmant (concrete along the edge of a road) · cy genffrwyn (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · es restricción (something that checks or restrains) · de Falz (raised margin along the edge) · cs uzda (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · fa مهار (something that checks or restrains) · da kantsten (concrete along the edge of a road) · sk obrubník (concrete along the edge of a road) · uk брі́вка (concrete along the edge of a road) · uk бро́вка (concrete along the edge of a road) · ru бордю́р (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Bordstein (concrete along the edge of a road) · fi laita (raised margin along the edge) · sh rubnik (concrete along the edge of a road) · fi pidike (something that checks or restrains) · ru поре́брик (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Randstein (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Beschränkung (something that checks or restrains) · ms bebendul (concrete along the edge of a road) · nl stoeprand (concrete along the edge of a road) · mi tapa rori (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Dämpfung (something that checks or restrains) · ga colbha (concrete along the edge of a road) · sk olemovanie (raised margin along the edge) · de Einschränkung (something that checks or restrains) · nl borduur (concrete along the edge of a road) · fi reunakivi (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Zurückhaltung (something that checks or restrains) · la crepīdō (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Zügel (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · de Hasenhacke (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · sk uzda (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · bg обузда́ване (something that checks or restrains) · de Beherrschung (something that checks or restrains) · sl robnik (concrete along the edge of a road) · cs obrubník (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Kandare (a riding or driving bit for a horse) · sh ivičnjak (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Kante (concrete along the edge of a road) · sk obrubník (raised margin along the edge) · de Kantstein (concrete along the edge of a road) · cmn 路緣 /路缘 (concrete along the edge of a road) · de Rippe (raised margin along the edge) · gd oir chabhsair (concrete along the edge of a road) · cy ymyl pafin (concrete along the edge of a road) · id kanstin (concrete along the edge of a road)