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curator

noun
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cu·​ra·​tor | \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər How to pronounce curator (audio) , ˈkyər-; kyu̇-ˈrā-; ˈkyu̇r-ə-, ˈkyər- How to pronounce curator (audio) \

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
Other Words from curator Did you know? Example Sentences Phrases Containing curator Learn More About curator

Other Words from curator

curatorial \ ˌkyu̇r-​ə-​ˈtȯr-​ē-​əl How to pronounce curator (audio) , ˌkyər-​ \ adjective
curatorship \ ˈkyu̇r-​ˌā-​tər-​ˌship How to pronounce curator (audio) , ˈkyər-​ ; kyu̇-​ˈrā-​ ; ˈkyu̇r-​ə-​ , ˈkyər-​ \ noun

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.

Examples of curator in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Finally on Friday morning, an alert curator spotted what looked like a wallaby footprint and followed the tracks to a service area in the park. — Theresa Waldrop And Melissa Alonso, CNN, 15 Apr. 2022 Ruff’s wife, Gloria, was an associate curator for the Brauer Museum of Art on campus at the university’s Center for the Arts, prior to the museum and gallery space shuttering for two years during the course of the COVID-19 pandemic. — Philip Potempa, chicagotribune.com, 6 Apr. 2022 The exhibition is organized by assistant curator Sophia Serrano. — Sasha Urban, Variety, 21 Mar. 2022 Independent curator Gita Joshi, host of The Curator's Salon podcast, isn’t surprised at this quick embrace of technology. — Suhita Shirodkar, Wired, 31 Jan. 2022 After the scan was complete, the Heritage Center’s curator, Angie Demma, invited the students to examine the robe more closely. — Loren Holmes, Anchorage Daily News, 5 May 2022 Kelly began her career at Buckingham Palace 28 years ago as the Queen's Senior Dresser and rose to become Her Majesty's personal stylist, curator, wardrobe and in-house designer — and one of her closest confidantes. — Stephanie Petit, PEOPLE.com, 5 May 2022 Felicity Cobbing, the chief curator at the Palestine Exploration Fund in London, which funds archaeological and historical research in Palestine, said the find could represent a new path for the Hamas authorities. — NBC News, 27 Apr. 2022 Born in India, Raja is an artist, curator, mentor and a strong proponent of collaboration. — Jim Higgins, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2022 See More

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.

First Known Use of curator

1561, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for curator

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

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Time Traveler for curator

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The first known use of curator was in 1561

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Dictionary Entries Near curator

curative

curator

curator bonis

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Last Updated

25 May 2022

Cite this Entry

“Curator.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curator. Accessed 28 May. 2022.

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More Definitions for curator

curator

noun
cu·​ra·​tor | \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər How to pronounce curator (audio) , kyu̇-ˈrā-, ˈkyu̇r-ə- \

Kids Definition of curator

: a person in charge of a museum or zoo

curator

noun
cu·​ra·​tor | \ ˈkyu̇r-ˌā-tər, kyu̇-ˈrā-tər How to pronounce curator (audio) \

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

Other Words from curator

curatorship noun

History and Etymology for curator

Latin, guardian, from curare to take care of

More from Merriam-Webster on curator

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for curator

Nglish: Translation of curator for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of curator for Arabic Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about curator

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