curb

noun \ ˈkərb \

Updated on: 21 Apr 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

Most of a global crude glut has been eliminated following 15 months of output curbs by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners, according to a monthly OPEC report.

— grant smith, Houston Chronicle, "OPEC sees tighter oil market as oil output drops," 12 Apr. 2018
The country is also considering a relaxation of stock-index futures trading curbs that were introduced during the nation’s 2015 market crash, people familiar said.

— Bloomberg.com, "Five Things You Need to Know to Start Your Day," 11 Apr. 2018
San Francisco began testing a system of curb designations that would regulate where and when ride-hailing companies can drop off and pick up customers.

— patrick sisson, Curbed, "As new transit startups take over streets and sidewalks, cities need to step up," 11 Apr. 2018
After two years of strict output curbs, December’s output hit a 24-month high, hinting that Beijing’s strict controls may be easing.

— nathaniel taplin, WSJ, "Coal Is About to Lose Face in China," 11 Apr. 2018
According to witnesses, a silver, four-door sedan in the center turn lane turned into the westbound lane, nearly striking a Nissan sedan, which then swerved into the curb lane of westbound traffic, Scott said.

— frank abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, "Separate Lake County crashes injure two drivers, damage utilities," 4 Apr. 2018
In 2017, Streets and Sanitation crews swept nearly 250,000 miles of curb lanes on residential and main streets and just under 5,000 alleys, increases over the 2016 season, Williams added.

— ese olumhense, chicagotribune.com, "With street sweeping season starting Monday in Chicago, city officials roll out new online tool," 30 Mar. 2018
Not much has changed in that upscale neighborhood since last March, when some neighbors were up in arms over reports that delineator posts would be installed, making curb stops impossible for cars, taxis, or delivery vehicles.

— stu bykofsky, Philly.com, "Philly's Pine-in-the-sky plan to flip bike lanes | Stu Bykofsky," 29 Mar. 2018
This appears to be a vehicle accident that went onto terminal 1 curb @IFlyOAKland.

— bradford betz, Fox News, "Auto crash at Oakland airport injures 2; unlicensed driver arrested, police say," 28 Mar. 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

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

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

In the 1970s, there were informal movie screenings but the experience could be interrupted by the country's religious police, whose powers have since been curbed.

— aya batrawy, The Christian Science Monitor, "Saudi Arabia to screen 'Black Panther' to mark first theater openings in decades," 18 Apr. 2018
Emerson said the Deep River water shed is one of the deepest in the county and anything that can be done to curb backups or flooding will benefit the area.

— craig lyons, Post-Tribune, "Lake County, Hobart partner for $4.8 million bridge project," 18 Apr. 2018
In a bid to curb conspiracy videos and other abuses of the system, YouTube changed the rules in 2017 for how many views and viewers creators needed to qualify for sharing ad revenues.

— jefferson graham, USA TODAY, "YouTube CEO Susan Wojcicki responds to attack for first time since shooting," 18 Apr. 2018
This city has struggled for years to curb discriminatory police stops.

— elizabeth dias, john eligon and richard a. oppel jr., New York Times, "Philadelphia Starbucks Arrests, Outrageous to Some, Are Everyday Life for Others," 17 Apr. 2018
Kuwait said the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and allied producers will discuss prolonging an agreement to curb oil output into 2019.

— grant smith, Houston Chronicle, "OPEC hints at extending output cut deal," 17 Apr. 2018
The technology will enable cars to send data on their location and speed to surrounding vehicles and roadside infrastructure to curb crashes.

— john lippert and todd shields, chicagotribune.com, "Toyota wants cars to start 'talking' to each other," 16 Apr. 2018
Planning for these strikes focused on ways to curb Assad’s ability to use such weapons again.

— anne gearan, Washington Post, "U.S. launches missile strikes in Syria," 13 Apr. 2018
And due to its inability or refusal to curb Assad's crimes, Russia must assume responsibility for Assad's behavior.

— Fox News, "What does the US accomplish by striking Syria?," 13 Apr. 2018

Origin and Etymology of curb

derivative of ¹curb

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1530

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