curlew
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do not know, to see them like this. In Britain, curlers are thought of as being worn mostly by WORKING-CLASS women, and women shown in curlers are often smoking a cigarette and in a rather untidy home environment.
cur·lew /'kɜ:ljʊǀ'kɜ:rlu:/ n a long-legged brownish water bird with a long curved beak
cur·li·cue, cur·ly·cue /'kɜ:lɪkju:ǀ'kɜ:r-/ n a decorative twisted pattern, such as one made with a pen
curl·ing /'kɜ:lɪŋ'kɜ:r-/ n [U] a Scottish and Canadian winter sport played by sliding flat heavy stones (curling stones) over ice towards a mark called the tee
'curling ,tongs also 'curling ,iron(s) n [pl.] a piece of electrical equipment which is heated and has a handle joined to a metal rod (around which the hair is wound) and another long piece of metal to keep the hair in place until a curl is formed
curl·y /'kɜ:liǀ'kɜ:rli/ adj having curls or tending to curl: curly hair —ness n [U]
cur·mud·geon /kɜ:'mʌdʒənǀkɜ:r-/ n old use or humor a bad-tempered old person —ly adj
cur·rant /'kʌrəntǀ'kɜ:r-/ n 1 a small dried seedless GRAPE especially used in baking cakes: currant buns 2 (especially in comb.) the small black, red, or white juicy fruit that grows in bunches on certain bushes: a redcurrant | a blackcurrant
cur·ren·cy /'kʌrənsiǀ'k:r-/ n 1 [C;U] the particular type of money in use in a country: the different currencies of Europe | the proposed single European currency | The British teachers in China were paid in local currency. (=in the money of China) | currency dealers → see also HARD CURRENCY, SINGLE CURRENCY 2 [U] fml the state of being generally believed or accepted: Reports about the President's illness are gaining currency among foreign journalists.
cur·rent¹ /'kʌrəntǀ'kɜ:r-/ adj 1 belonging to the present time; of the present day: They are expecting profits of over $2 million in the current year. | the current issue of 'The New Yorker' | This word is no longer in current use. → see NEW (USAGE) 2 tech (of money) officially acceptable as currency —ly adv: The rate of inflation currently stands at 7%.
current² n 1 [C] a continuously moving mass of liquid or gas, especially one flowing through slower-moving liquid or gas: The current is strongest in the middle of the river. | currents of hot air | (fig.) the current of public opinion 2 [C;U] the flow of electricity past a fixed point: This button switches the current on. → see also ALTERNATING CURRENT, DIRECT CURRENT
'current ac,count BrE ‖ checking account AmE — n a bank account which usually earns little or no interest and from which money can be taken out at any time by cheque → compare DEPOSIT ACCOUNT
,current af'fairs also ,current e'vents n [pl.] important things that are happening in the world at the present time
—current affairs adj: a current affairs programme/class
,current 'assets n [P] ASSETS such as STOCK, money in the form of coins or notes, and debts owed, which change quickly in the course of day-to-day business
,current lia'bilities n [P] money which is owed to a business and is expected to be paid within 12 months
cur·ric·u·lum /kə'rɪkjʊləm/ n pl. -la /-lə/, -lums a course of study offered in a school, college etc: Has computer studies been introduced into the school curriculum? → compare SYLLABUS, TIMETABLE
curriculum vi·tae /kə,rɪkjʊləm 'vi:taɪ/ n pl. curriculum vitaes or curricula vitae /-kjʊlə-/ [C usually sing.] fml a short written account of a person's education and past employment; CV
Cur·rie, Ed·wi·na /'kʌriǀ'k:-, ed'wi:nə/ (1946–) a British woman who was a Conservative politician from 1983 until 1997, known for saying what she thinks. She has also written several popular NOVELS that include a lot of sex. In 2002 she admitted that she had had an AFFAIR (=secret sexual relationship) with John Major that ended two years before he became PRIME MINISTER.
Cur·rier and Ives /,kʌriər and 'aɪvzǀ,kɜ:-/ n typical of a style of US art, named after the two men who invented it. It shows scenes from daily life in 19th century America.
cur·ry¹ /'kʌriǀ'kɜ:ri:/ n [C;U] a type of food from India and other parts of S Asia, consisting of meat, vegetables etc cooked in a thick often hot-tasting liquid and usually eaten with rice or special bread: I like hot curries. | a (plate of) chicken curry with rice
CULTURAL NOTE Curry is very popular in the UK. Many different types of READY-MADE curries and curry sauces can be bought in SUPERMARKETS. There are many Indian restaurants where you can either sit down while you have your meal or order a TAKEAWAY curry. Some places in Britain are well-known for having a large number of Indian, Pakistani, or Bangladeshi restaurants, for example Brick Lane in the East End of London. These are all called Indian restaurants by most British people. One way of cooking curry, known as Balti, became especially popular in Birmingham and later spread to other places. A restaurant that serves this food is called a 'Balti House'. The stereotype of people who like eating curry in restaurants is young men who drink large amounts of LAGER with their meal and who SHOW OFF by eating curry dishes, such as Chicken Vindaloo, which contain the hottest SPICES. → see colour photo on page A38
curry² v [T usually pass.] to make (meat, vegetables etc) into a curry: curried chicken | curried eggs
curry³ v [T] 1 to rub and clean (a horse) with a special comb (currycomb) 2 curry favour to try to win attention by insincere means: to curry favour with one's teacher
'curry ,powder n [U] a mixture of hot SPICES (=strong-tasting dried vegetable parts) crushed into a fine powder, used in cooking
Cur·ry's /'kʌriz'kɜ:-/ trademark a British company which sells electrical or electronic goods for the home, such as televisions, cameras, washing machines, COOKERS etc. Their shops are often in large shopping areas on the edges of towns.
curse¹ /kɜ:sǀkɜ:rs/ v 1 [T] to express a wish that great misfortune will happen to (someone), especially by calling on magical powers: The witchdoctor cursed me, and my children and grandchildren too. | She cursed him for ruining her life. → opposite BLESS 2 [I;T] to swear (at): She cursed the car when it refused to start. 3 be cursed with to suffer misfortune or great harm because of: She was cursed with a stammer all her life.
curse² n 1 [C(on)] a word or sentence asking God, heaven etc to make something evil or harmful happen to someone or something. In Western countries people do not generally believe that curses can work: an ancient and powerful curse | Our tribe is under a curse. | The witchdoctor put a curse on him. | to utter a curse 2 [C(to)] a cause of trouble, harm etc: Foxes can be a curse to farmers. 3 [C] a word or words used in swearing; word or words expressing anger, hate etc: She gave a couple of curses and then got up again. 4 [the] euph Slang (a time of) menstruating (MENSTRUATE): She's got the curse.
curs·ed /'kɜ:sɪdǀ'k:r-/ also curst /kɜ:stǀkɜ:rst/ adj [A] old-fash infml hateful; annoying: I wish that cursed dog would be quiet. —ly adv
cur·sive /'kɜ:sɪv'kɜ:r-/ adj (of writing) written in a flowing rounded style with the letters joined together; in the style of handwriting rather than printing —ly adv
cur·sor /'kɜ:səǀ'kɜ:r-/ n a mark or a small light which can be moved around a SCREEN connected to a computer, in order to do operations at a particular position
cur·so·ry /'kɜ:səriǀ'kɜ:r-/ adj (of work, reading etc) quick and not thorough; done without attention to details: Even a cursory glance at the report showed that it was full of mistakes. —rily adv
curt /kɜ:tǀkɜ:rt/ adj (of a person, his/her manner etc) saying too little to be polite; BLUNT: a curt reply/manner —ly adv
—ness n [U]
cur·tail /kɜ:'teɪlǀkɜ:r-/ v [T] fml to reduce in degree or effect; limit: Owing to the war, the government's public health programme had to be severely curtailed. —ment n [C;U]
cur·tain¹ /'kɜ:tənǀ'kɜ:rtən/ n 1 a piece of hanging cloth that can be pulled across to cover a window or door, to divide a room etc: velvet curtains | It's getting dark – I'd better draw the curtains. (=pull them across the window) | (fig.) The