curb

noun \ ˈkərb \

|Updated on: 15 Jun 2018

Definition of curb

1 : a bit that exerts severe pressure on a horse's jaws; also : the chain or strap attached to it — see bit illustration

2 : an enclosing frame, border, or edging

3 : check, restraint

a price curb

government policies that are designed to put a curb on spending

4 : a raised edge or margin to strengthen or confine

5 : an edging (as of concrete) built along a street to form part of a gutter

They sat on the curb eating their ice cream.

[from the fact that it originally transacted its business on the street]

: a market for trading in securities not listed on a stock exchange

See curb defined for English-language learners

See curb defined for kids

Examples of curb in a Sentence

We sat on the curb eating our ice cream.
these international regulations act as a curb on the plundering of a nation's archaeological treasures

Recent Examples of curb from the Web

Earlier this year, the city of Portland settled another such suit by agreeing to allocate $113 million over 12 years to fix its sidewalks and curbs.

— bill rankin, ajc, "Wheelchair users sue Atlanta, alleging unsafe sidewalks and crosswalks," 8 June 2018
Resurfacing is taking place between Route 83 and Center Street, including installation of curbs and gutters on the section north of Washington.

— dan moran, Lake County News-Sun, "Moran: Washington Street repairs a reminder to expect unexpected construction," 5 June 2018
Some curbs and gutters were destroyed in the flooding, so crews also worked to put sandbags in place to help guide water downhill.

— sarah meehan, baltimoresun.com, "Ellicott City braces for more rain following Sunday's flood," 31 May 2018
The work will also include curb and gutter replacement.

— mike nolan, Daily Southtown, "Road projects on tap for summer in several south, southwest suburbs," 26 May 2018
Local media quoted police as saying the van had mounted a curb and that the driver fled the scene and was arrested near Yonge Street and Sheppard Avenue.

— Houston Chronicle, "West University Place police report," 21 May 2018
The crowds have generally dissipated which allows room to ollie onto curbs and test out new tricks.

— briana duggan and chris giles, CNN, "Dropping in with Nairobi's skateboarding scene," 8 May 2018
To help address the problem, the village applied for a Community Development Block Grant that, if successful, could pay for the installation of a concrete walkway with curb and gutter.

— sheila vilvens, Cincinnati.com, "Bird poop piles problematic for an otherwise picturesque New Richmond," 7 May 2018
The lanes are nearest the curb, meaning vehicles must park to the right of the bike lanes.

— cassie dickman, sacbee, "Bicyclists are about to get 'buffered.' Drivers might hit learning 'curb' | The Sacramento Bee," 4 May 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of curb

Middle French courbe curve, curved piece of wood or iron, from courbe curved, from Latin curvus

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

curb Synonyms

Synonyms

check, circumscription, condition, constraint, fetter, limitation, restraint, restriction;

Near Antonyms

freedom, latitude;

ban, prohibition, proscription;

Other Animal Husbandry Terms

apiary, bantam, calico, girth, hogwash, mast, rut

curb

verb

Definition of curb

curbed; curbing; curbs

transitive verb

1 : to furnish with a curb

2 : to check or control with or as if with a curb

trying to curb her curiosity

3 : to lead (a dog) to a suitable place (such as a gutter) for defecation

See curb defined for English-language learners

Examples of curb in a Sentence

The legislation is intended to curb price and wage increases.
pills designed to curb your appetite

Recent Examples of curb from the Web

Addiction experts have also sought to curb the prescription of opioids.

— lev facher, STAT, "As opioids legislation gains steam, efforts to address crisis collide with moneyed interests," 7 June 2018
Under that deal, the U.S. and world powers gave Iran billions of dollars in sanctions relief in exchange for curbing its nuclear program.

— NBC News, "Obama-era license aimed to let Iran convert money in dollars," 6 June 2018
But this year, aside from an initiative designed to curb phone addiction (undercut somewhat by the image, minutes later, of a woman on an exercise bike swiping frantically through her Apple watch) the tech giant announced little of note.

— maya kosoff, The Hive, "How Silicon Valley’s Petty Feud with Mark Zuckerberg Could Backfire," 5 June 2018
Angels manager Mike Scioscia actually tried to curb the severity by saying the slide looked to veer toward Simmons.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: Is 'Big Sexy' losing his appeal?," 2 June 2018
They’ve repeatedly been peppered by friends and foes alike on range of issues, with the harshest criticism reserved for American president Donald Trump’s unilateral trade tariffs designed to curb cheap steel and aluminum exports from China.

— carl prine, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Mattis acknowledges 'unusual ways' of administration, calls for patience at Asian talks," 2 June 2018
According to the Pentagon and the CIA, North Korea sees its nuclear weapons as a deterrent against foreign invasion, particularly by the US, and therefore has no impetus to curb its nuclear program.

— alex ward, Vox, "Trump’s big summit with Kim Jong Un is officially back on," 1 June 2018
The purpose of these regulations is to curb abortions by forcing providers to comply with nearly impossible regulations.

— refinery29.com, "How The Supreme Court Made Abortion Access Harder For Women In Arkansas," 30 May 2018
As a senator, Gard pushed for laws intended to curb underage drinking, sponsoring bills that tracked keg purchases and prohibited the sale of alcohol by workers younger than 21.

— tony cook, Indianapolis Star, "Death knell for cold beer sales? Bosma appoints new alcohol commission chairman," 29 May 2018

Origin and Etymology of curb

derivative of ¹curb

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1530

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

curb Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of curb

restrain, check, curb, bridle mean to hold back from or control in doing something. restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

- restrained themselves from laughing

check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

- trying to check government spending

curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

- learn to curb your appetite

bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

- bridle an impulse to throw the book down

CURB Defined for English Language Learners

curb

noun

Definition of curb for English Language Learners

: a short border along the edge of a street that is usually made of stone or concrete
: something that controls or limits something else

curb

verb

Definition of curb for English Language Learners

: to control or limit (something)

CURB Defined for Kids

curb

noun \ ˈkərb \

Definition of curb for Students

1 : an enclosing border (as of stone or concrete) often along the edge of a street

2 : ¹check 2

a curb on rising prices

curb

verb

Definition of curb for Students

curbed; curbing

: to control or limit

curb spending

This will curb your appetite.

Medical Dictionary

curb

noun \ ˈkərb \

medical Definition of curb

: a swelling on the back of the hind leg of a horse just behind the lowest part of the hock joint that is due to strain or rupture of the ligament and generally causes lameness