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castle was hidden behind a thick curtain of smoke. 2 a sheet
of heavy material that can be lowered across the front of a
stage in a theatre: As the curtain rises, a dead body is seen on
the stage. 3 curtain up (the time of) the raising of the
curtain in the theatre → see also CURTAINS, DRAPES, IRON
CURTAIN, SAFETY CURTAIN
curtain² v [T] to provide with a curtain
curtain sthg. ↔ off phr v [T] to separate or divide off with a
curtain: One of the beds in the hospital ward was curtained
off.
'curtain call n the appearance of actors at the end of a
performance for APPLAUSE: She took seven curtain calls.
'curtain hook n a small plastic or metal hook which is
joined to the back of the top of a curtain and also to a
curtain ring: There are twenty rings and only fourteen curtain
hooks.
'curtain rail n a length of plastic or metal placed at the top
of a window, from which curtains hang and along which
they may be pulled: The sooner the curtain rail goes up the
sooner we can have a bit of privacy.
'curtain raiser n a short play acted before the main play:
(fig.) This project is a curtain raiser for a much bigger pro-
gramme of research.
'curtain ring n a plastic, metal or wooden ring which
connects with a curtain hook and moves along the curtain
rail or rod: I want some plastic curtain rings for the shower
curtain.
'curtain rod n a rod placed at the top of a window or door
bearing rings which can move freely along its length and
from which a curtain hangs
cur·tains /'kɜtnz||'kːr-/ n [P] slang the end, especially of a
person's life: If your work doesn't improve it will be curtains
for you. (=you'll be dismissed)
Cur·tis, Richard /'kɜːtɪs||'kɜːr-/ (1956–) a British writer and
film director. He has written many television programmes,
including Blackadder and The Vicar of Dibley. His films
include Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, and Bridget
Jones's Diary. He is also one of the main organizers of COMIC
RELIEF every two years in the UK. He is known for being very
private and does not often appear in public.
Curtis, Tony (1925–) a US actor who first became popular in
the 1950s after appearing in adventure films. Later he took
more serious parts in films such as Sweet Smell of Success
(1957), and The Boston Strangler (1968). One of his most
famous films was Some Like It Hot with Marilyn Monroe in
1959, when he and Jack Lemmon dressed as women musi-
cians to escape from criminals who wanted to kill him.
curt·sy, -sey /'kɜːtsi||'kɜːr-/ n a woman's act of respect to a
person of higher rank, especially to a member of a royal
family, done by bending the knees and lowering the head
and shoulders → compare BOW —curtsy v [I]
cur·va·ceous, -cious /kɜː'veɪʃəs||kɜːr-/ adj infml, often humor
(of a woman) having a pleasingly well-developed figure,
with attractive curves —ly adv
cur·va·ture /'kɜːvətʃə||'kɜːr-/ n [C;U] 1 the state of being
curved or the degree to which something is curved: the
curvature of the Earth's surface 2 med (an) unnatural curving
of a body part, usually causing pain or illness: curvature of
the spine
curve¹ /kɜːrv||kɜːrv/ n 1 a line of which no part is straight
and which contains no angles; a rounded bend: a curve in
the road/the river 2 also 'curve ball — (in BASEBALL) a throw
in which the ball spins so that it curves unexpectedly and is
difficult to hit: (fig.) The reporter threw the politician a curve
by asking him an unexpected question.
curve² v [i;T] to (cause to) bend in the shape of a curve: The
road curved to the right.
Cush·ing, Peter /'kuʃɪŋ/ (1913–94) a British actor known
especially for acting in HORROR FILMS, such as Dracula (1958)
and for appearing as the character Sherlock HOLMES in The
HOUND OF THE BASKERVILLES (1959)
cush·ion¹ /'kuʃən/ n 1 a bag filled with a soft substance on
which a person can lie, sit, or rest comfortably: He lay on the
sofa with a cushion under his head. → compare PIL-
LOW 2 something like this in shape or purpose: Hovercrafts
ride on a cushion of air. 3 the soft rubber border on the
inside edge of a table used in the game of BILLIARDS
cushion² v [T] 1 to reduce the force or (unpleasant) effects
of: Nothing can cushion the shock of the tragedy. | The
training programme helps to cushion the effects of unemploy-
ment. 2 [(against)] to protect from hardship or sudden
change: He was cushioned against inflation by his govern-
ment pension. 3 [usually pass.] to provide with cushions: a
cushioned seat
cush·ion·ing /'kuʃənɪŋ/ n [U] something soft that protects
someone or something when they hit a surface: A special
pad in the heel offers good cushioning as you walk.
cush·y /'kuʃi/ adj infml 1 (of a job, style of life etc) needing
little effort; too easy, especially in a way that makes
other people jealous 2 a cushy number an easy job:
You've landed yourself a cushy little number here, Tom!
—iness n [U]
cusp /kʌsp/ n tech 1 the point formed by two curves meet-
ing: the cusp of the moon in its first quarter 2 the time
represented by the end of one sign of the ZODIAC and the
beginning of the next: I was born on the cusp (of Capricorn
and Aquarius).
cus·pi·dor /'kʌspɪdɔr/ n AmE for SPITTOON
cuss¹ /kʌs/ n slang 1 a curse 2 a person of the stated, usually
unpleasant kind: an irritable old cuss
cuss² v [i;T] slang to curse
'cuss box n AmE SWEAR BOX
cuss·ed /'kʌsɪd/ adj slang 1 too unwilling to change your
opinions, actions etc even when they are clearly mistaken;
OBSTINATE 2 rare hateful or annoying; CURSED —ly adv
—ness n [U]
cus·tard /'kʌstədl-ərd/ n 1 [U] especially BrE a yellow liquid
for pouring over sweet foods, made of sweetened milk thick-
ened with eggs and flour, or made with a dry mixture of these
sold as custard powder: apple pie and hot custard 2 [C;U] a
soft usually baked mixture of sweetened milk and eggs: a
caramel custard
,custard 'cream n BrE a sweet BISCUIT filled with a mixture
tasting of custard
,custard 'pie n a flat pastry case that contains custard, or
something intended to look like custard, that is thrown at
someone. The throwing of custard pies at people is typical of
SLAPSTICK humour, both on stage and in films, and many
people consider it to be funny.
Cus·ter, General /'kʌstər/
(1839–76) a US soldier who
first became famous in the
American CIVIL WAR. He was
killed, with all the men he
was in command of, by
Native Americans from the
SIOUX tribe led by CRAZY
HORSE and SITTING BULL, in
the Battle of the LITTLE BIG-
HORN. This battle is also
known as Custer's Last Stand.
cus·to·di·al /kʌ'stəʊdiəl/
adj of or connected with cus-
tody, especially of criminals:
The offender was too young to
be given a custodial sentence.
(=a period in prison)
cus·to·di·an /kʌ'stəʊdiən/ n 1 a person in charge of a
public building; keeper of a library, castle etc. This word is
often the official title for such a person: the custodian of the
royal library 2 fml a person with custody over someone or
something: (fig.) politicians who set themselves up as custodi-
ans of public morality —ship n [U]
cus·to·dy /'kʌstədi/ n [U] 1 [(of)] the act or right of looking
after someone and making decisions about their education,
medical treatment etc, especially when this right is given in
a court of law: After his divorce, the father was awarded/
granted (=given) custody of the children. | a terrible custody
battle between the two parents 2 [(in, into)] the state of being
guarded, especially by the police: The man has now been
taken into custody. (=he is being kept in a police prison
General Custer