iron curtain en · NOUN
Pronunciation
- (Australia) audio
- /ˌaɪ(ə)ɹn ˈkɜɹt(ə)n/ (General-American)
- /ˌaɪən ˈkɜːtn̩/ (Received-Pronunciation)
Etymology
From iron + curtain.
Meanings
- A barrier made of iron in a theatre, lowered between the stage and the auditorium for fire safety or to prevent communication.
-
(figuratively) Any impenetrable barrier.
The coup d'etat also constituted an iron curtain for the social scientists.
1982, Ervand Abrahamian, Iran Between Two Revolutions, →ISBN, page 450:“We see Ukraine is holding the line, even partially regaining territory,” she said, adding that Russia was struggling and imposing “a digital iron curtain on their people” – a reference to internet censorship.
2026 June 18, Peter Beaumont, Pjotr Sauer, Jennifer Rankin, “Moscow oil refinery struck in Ukraine’s biggest air raid on city since start of war”, in The Guardian, →ISSN:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| iron curtains | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Deriveds
Synonyms
Translations (65)
tk demir perde (impenetrable barrier) · az dəmir pərdə (impenetrable barrier) · uz temir parda (impenetrable barrier) · ar سِتَار حَدِيدِيّ (impenetrable barrier) · is járntjald (impenetrable barrier) · ko 장벽 (impenetrable barrier) · gd cùirtear iarainn (impenetrable barrier) · sh gvozdena zavesa (impenetrable barrier) · tr demir perde (impenetrable barrier) · tl kurtinang pangyero (barrier made of iron in a theatre) · sv järnridå (impenetrable barrier) · pt cortina de ferro (impenetrable barrier) · ru желе́зный за́навес (impenetrable barrier) · ug تۆمۈر پەردە (impenetrable barrier) · ky темир көшөгө (impenetrable barrier) · da jerntæppe (impenetrable barrier) · pl żelazna kurtyna (barrier made of iron in a theatre) · it cortina di ferro (impenetrable barrier) · ar السِتَار الحَدِيدِي (impenetrable barrier) · hu vasfüggöny (impenetrable barrier) · mn төмөр хөшиг (impenetrable barrier) · is járntjald (barrier made of iron in a theatre) · sh železna zavesa (impenetrable barrier) · hu vasfüggöny (barrier made of iron in a theatre) · ko 철의 장막 (impenetrable barrier) · cmn 鐵幕 /铁幕 (impenetrable barrier) · ro cortină de fier (impenetrable barrier) · fr rideau de fer (impenetrable barrier) · nb jernteppe (impenetrable barrier) · nl ijzeren gordijn (impenetrable barrier) · mk железна завеса (impenetrable barrier) · sh жељезна завјеса (impenetrable barrier) · sh željezna zavjesa (impenetrable barrier) · et raudne eesriie (impenetrable barrier) · cs železná opona (impenetrable barrier) · fa پردهٔ آهنین (impenetrable barrier) · bg желя́зна заве́са (impenetrable barrier) · pt cortina de ferro (barrier made of iron in a theatre) · es telón de acero (impenetrable barrier) · th ม่านเหล็ก (impenetrable barrier) · sl železna zavesa (impenetrable barrier) · sh гвоздена завеса (impenetrable barrier) · pl żelazna kurtyna (impenetrable barrier) · be жале́зная засло́на (impenetrable barrier) · uk залі́зна заві́са (impenetrable barrier) · he מָסַךְ הַבַּרְזֶל (impenetrable barrier) · lv dzelzs priekškars (impenetrable barrier) · kk темір перде (impenetrable barrier) · ca teló d'acer (impenetrable barrier) · lt geležinė uždanga (impenetrable barrier) · km វាំងននដែក (impenetrable barrier) · sh железна завеса (impenetrable barrier) · ka რკინის ფარდა (impenetrable barrier) · es cortina de hierro (impenetrable barrier) · de eiserner Vorhang (impenetrable barrier) · sk železná opona (impenetrable barrier) · hi लौह पर्दा (impenetrable barrier) · vi bức màn sắt (impenetrable barrier) · el σιδηρούν παραπέτασμα (impenetrable barrier) · hy երկաթե վարագույր (impenetrable barrier) · fi rautaesirippu (impenetrable barrier) · tg пардаи оҳанин (impenetrable barrier) · ja 鉄のカーテン (impenetrable barrier) · ca teló de ferro (impenetrable barrier) · gd cùirtear iarainn (barrier made of iron in a theatre)