curator

noun cu·ra·tor \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər , ˈkyər- ; kyu̇-ˈrā- ; ˈkyu̇r-ə- , ˈkyər- \

Updated on: 13 May 2018

Definition of curator

: one who has the care and superintendence of something; especially : one in charge of a museum, zoo, or other place of exhibit

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curatorial

play \ˌkyu̇r-ə-ˈtȯr-ē-əl, ˌkyər-\ adjective

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curatorship

play \ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər-ˌship, ˈkyər-; kyu̇-ˈrā-; ˈkyu̇r-ə-, ˈkyər-\ noun

See curator defined for English-language learners

See curator defined for kids

Recent Examples of curator from the Web

In a video compilation of the fragments, BFI’s curator of silent films Bryony Dixon explains that the bits were likely from things like promotional films, color tests and auditions.

— jason daley, Smithsonian, "Rare Technicolor Snippets of Lost Films Discovered," 10 May 2018
In May 2017, Andrew Bolton, the Institute’s head curator, met with Archbishop Georg Gänswein in Vatican City to explain his vision: an examination of the Catholic church’s inspiration to fashion designers throughout time.

— melania hidalgo, The Cut, "Everything You Need to Know About the 2018 Met Gala," 7 May 2018
The fort’s curator said the lock, donated by a direct of descendant of Arnold’s in 1952, was wrapped in paper, top, inscribed by Arnold’s son Henry and enclosed in another paper, right, addressed to Henry and his brother, who were living in Canada.

— Washington Post, "Benedict Arnold’s hair to be displayed at fort he captured," 2 May 2018
Allison Glenn, the associate curator of contemporary art at Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art in Bentonville, Arkansas, first encountered Mayorga's work at the 2016 MFA show.

— kerry cardoza, Chicago Reader, "The American dream, in frosting: the art of Yvette Mayorga," 25 Apr. 2018
Jerger worked with the museum's curator of public engagement, Andres Payan, to organize the show, which features 23 artists and fills CAFAM entirely, including its patio and stairwells.

— leah ollman, latimes.com, "Ceramic art, once written off as mere craft, wins a brighter spotlight in the L.A. scene," 25 Apr. 2018
Jennifer Bridge, curator of exhibits and interpretation for Naperville’s outdoor history museum Naper Settlement, could not be reached for comment on the local story.

— erin hegarty, Naperville Sun, "Laughing Lincoln statue would be Naperville Century Walk's birthday gift to Illinois," 24 Apr. 2018
But Tommy Honton, co-curator of the museum, thinks that despite Kardashian West’s proclamation, the selfie is still alive and well.

— margaret andersen, WIRED, "The Selfie as We Know It Is Dead," 20 Apr. 2018
Bob Grenier, curator of the Lake County Historical Museum, said that while Tavares didn’t have a theater movies once were shown on the side of the old opera house on Main Street that was torn down a couple of years ago.

— jerry fallstrom, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Residents reminicse about the Princess, Mount Dora's last movie theater before EPIC's arrival," 20 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'curator.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Did You Know?

In a good-sized art museum, each curator is generally responsible for a single department or collection: European painting, Asian sculpture, Native American art, and so on. Curatorial duties include acquiring new artworks, caring for and repairing objects already owned, discovering frauds and counterfeits, lending artworks to other museums, and mounting exhibitions of everything from Greek sculpture to 20th-century clothing.

Origin and Etymology of curator

borrowed from Latin cūrātor "one who looks after, superintendent, guardian," from cūrāre "to watch over, attend" + -tor, agent suffix — more at ²cure

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1561

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

Other Job Terms

factotum, milliner, ostler, scrivener, tinker, webster, wordsmith

CURATOR Defined for English Language Learners

curator

noun

Definition of curator for English Language Learners

: a person who is in charge of the things in a museum, zoo, etc.

CURATOR Defined for Kids

curator

noun cu·ra·tor \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər , kyu̇-ˈrā- , ˈkyu̇r-ə- \

Definition of curator for Students

: a person in charge of a museum or zoo

Word Root of curator

The Latin word cūrāre, meaning “to care,” gives us the root cur. Words from the Latin cūrāre have something to do with giving care. A cure, something that heals sickness, is something that cares for someone's health. Anything accurate has been carefully measured or supplied so that it is free from mistakes. A curator is a person who cares for the things in a museum.

Law Dictionary

curator

noun cu·ra·tor \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər, kyu̇-ˈrā-tər \

legal Definition of curator

in the civil law of Louisiana : a person appointed by a court to care for the property of an absent person or to care for the person or property of someone mentally incapable of doing so — compare committee, conservator, guardian, interdict, tutor

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