curb

noun

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\ ˈkərb

plural curbs

Definition of curb

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a or British kerb : an edging (as of concrete) built along a street to form part of a gutter They sat on the curb eating their ice cream. — see also kick to the curb

b [from the fact that it originally transacted its business on the street] : a market for trading in securities not listed on a stock exchange

c : a raised edge or margin to strengthen or confine

d : an enclosing frame, border, or edging

2a : check, restraint a price curb government policies that are designed to put a curb on spending

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

curb

verb

curbed; curbing; curbs

Definition of curb (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More About curb

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Choose the Right Synonym for curb

Verb

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

Examples of curb in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun When the first officer flashed his lights, Laundrie slammed into the curb, later claiming that Petito had tugged the steering wheel. — Michael Ruiz, Fox News, 1 Oct. 2021 Bailey is ready to toss this woman to the curb, but Richard reminds her that the residents lost a year due to COVID. — Lincee Ray, EW.com, 1 Oct. 2021 Officers first placed Rickman on his side, but after the Phoenix Fire Department was requested, he was taken to the curb and put in a seated position, Cole said. — Brieanna J. Frank, The Arizona Republic, 16 Sep. 2021 At the same time, a revival of mid-century style sent fussy china cabinets and old-fashioned wainscoting to the curb. — Maile Pingel, Washington Post, 13 Sep. 2021 As residents frantically evacuated a week ago from the approaching Caldor Fire, the last thing many South Lake Tahoe residents did was to pull their garbage cans to the curb. — Matthias Gafni, San Francisco Chronicle, 6 Sep. 2021 The Supreme Court kicked him to the curb on his bogus Trump things. — NBC News, 5 Sep. 2021 Police found the bodies of two men with multiple gunshot wounds near a curb outside a convenience store at about 7:30 p.m., St. Louis police spokesperson Evita Caldwell told USA TODAY. — Christine Fernando, USA TODAY, 22 June 2021 In police body-camera footage submitted as evidence, Mr. Timpa can be seen rolling near the curb, kicking his bare feet and screaming. — Jacob Gershman, WSJ, 6 June 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In this instance, the supremely exasperating Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (D-AZ) just might stumble into legislating a tax to curb carbon emissions. — Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 28 Sep. 2021 Wealthy nations must also follow through on their unmet pledge to give $100 billion per year to help low-income countries curb their own emissions and adapt to changes that are already underway, the group said. — Sarah Kaplan, Anchorage Daily News, 27 Sep. 2021 Senate Bill 1383, which former Gov. Jerry Brown signed into law in 2016, mandates that all jurisdictions establish a program that will reduce the amount of organic waste sent to landfills to curb methane emissions. — San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Sep. 2021 The 2009 American Clean Energy and Security Act, for example, would have established a cap-and-trade program to force big polluters to curb their greenhouse gas emissions, but after passing the House the bill never even made it to the Senate floor. — Eleanor Cummins, Wired, 22 Sep. 2021 Other hotel companies are also working to curb their greenhouse gas emissions. — Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 22 Sep. 2021 Authorities must also demonstrate to the Chinese public that drastic moves to curb emissions are in the interest of the country and not the result of pressure from the West, especially the United States. — Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2021 Utah agency heads blast Biden’s plans to curb greenhouse emissions. — Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 17 Sep. 2021 As the focus on preventing climate change has intensified, utilities nationwide have relied on such efficiency and conservation programs to curb emissions and defer construction of new generating plants. — Diego Mendoza-moyers, San Antonio Express-News, 13 Sep. 2021

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.

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Dictionary Entries Near curb

curatrix

curb

curb appeal

Statistics for curb

Last Updated

8 Oct 2021

Cite this Entry

“Curb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curb. Accessed 18 Oct. 2021.

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More Definitions for curb

curb

noun

English Language Learners Definition of curb

(Entry 1 of 2)

: 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

English Language Learners Definition of curb (Entry 2 of 2)

: to control or limit (something)

See the full definition for curb in the English Language Learners Dictionary

curb

noun

\ ˈkərb

Kids Definition of curb

(Entry 1 of 2)

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

2 : check entry 1 sense 2 a curb on rising prices

curb

verb

curbed; curbing

Kids Definition of curb (Entry 2 of 2)

: to control or limit curb spending This will curb your appetite.

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