curb
curb Lexical Profile
curb Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American A stone or concrete edging to a street, sidewalk, or path.
"He parked his car too close to the curb and scraped the front right tire."
A check, restraint, or limitation on something.
"The central bank introduced a strict curb on lending to stabilize the economy."
A type of bit with a strap or chain attached under a horse's lower jaw, used to provide the rider with greater control.
"The inexperienced rider pulled too harshly on the curb, causing the horse to rear back."
• verb
To restrain or keep in check (especially something undesirable).
"She took a few deep breaths to curb her rising temper before responding."
North American To lead a dog off the sidewalk to relieve itself in the street.
"The city placed signs around the park reminding pet owners to curb their dogs."
Word Nuance & Usage
In North American English, 'curb' refers to both a restraint and the physical edge of a road. In British English, the road edge is spelled 'kerb', while 'curb' is strictly reserved for the meaning of a restraint or the act of restraining.
• Rhymes for curb
Word Origin & Etymology
Late 15th century (originally denoting a strap fastened to a horse's bit): from Old French 'courbe' (curved), from Latin 'curvus'. The sense of 'edge of a street' emerged in the late 18th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.