curb

1 of 2

noun

plural curbs
1
a
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
2
a
: 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

2 of 2

verb

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
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

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
In her neighborhood, America’s worsening drug-addiction problem could be witnessed on every sidewalk, unconscious bodies slumped on curbs and benches. David Frum, The Atlantic, 21 Mar. 2024 The Chinese government loosened longstanding curbs on foreign ownership of companies and doled out lucrative incentives ahead of Tesla setting up its Shanghai Gigafactory. John Liu, New York Times, 14 Mar. 2024 But a key strategy promoted there – to transform the country into a high-tech powerhouse – was widely seen as part of an urgent bid to safeguard the country in the face of Biden administration technology curbs and a fractious US-China relationship ahead. Simone McCarthy, CNN, 10 Mar. 2024 For nearly a century, beginning with the earliest public-opinion surveys, Americans have consistently supported safety measures and curbs on gun ownership. Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, 10 Mar. 2024 Those trade curbs pushed Huawei and SMIC to pursue avenues for building a domestic chip supply chain, and the Mate 60 Pro marked a surprising advance in that effort. Cagan Koc, Fortune Asia, 8 Mar. 2024 Baltimore hired artists to liven up curb extensions with geometric shapes and vibrant colors. Jeff McMurray, Fortune, 2 Mar. 2024 Starr was bicycling in the outbound right lane near the curb. Josh Bergeron, Charlotte Observer, 25 Feb. 2024 While Hong Kong’s internet remains largely free, initial curbs have sparked concern the tight controls of mainland China, where many Western platforms are blocked and censors routinely scrub content critical of the government, could spill over into Hong Kong. Alan Wong, Fortune Asia, 2 Mar. 2024
Verb
What can be done to curb violence, and what does the future of public safety look like? Kendrick Calfee, Kansas City Star, 25 Mar. 2024 Nobody feels any pain in the process, so nothing will be done to curb these thefts. Bradley Brownell / Jalopnik, Quartz, 23 Mar. 2024 Eating a balanced, nutrient-rich diet of fiber, fruit, and protein can help curb food cravings. News & Views, Health, 23 Mar. 2024 Members of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, furious they were left out of the negotiations, opposed its wishlist of GOP immigration priorities, including raising the threshold for asylum seekers and curbing presidential authority to parole migrants who face persecution in their home countries. Andrea Castillo, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2024 Big Tech: South Korea’s antitrust regulator wanted to enact the toughest competition law outside Europe, curbing the influence of major technology companies. John Yoon, New York Times, 19 Mar. 2024 Senator Bernie Sanders is trying to push a four-day, 32-hour work week into legislation without curbing employee pay. Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 18 Mar. 2024 The revelations underscore the degree to which China has evaded American efforts to curb its hacking operations. Mike Isaac, New York Times, 7 Mar. 2024 In milk chocolate, milk fat is mainly used to curb the bitterness of the chocolate, but in semisweet chocolate, at much lower levels, it's also used to make chocolate softer. Sam Stone, Bon Appétit, 6 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'curb.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

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

Verb

derivative of curb entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2b

Verb

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of curb was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near curb

Cite this Entry

“Curb.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curb. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

curb

1 of 2 noun
1
: a chain or strap on a horse's bit used to control the horse by pressing against the lower jaw
2
: check entry 1 sense 3
price curbs
3
: an enclosing border (as of stone or concrete) often along the edge of a street

curb

2 of 2 verb
1
: to control by or furnish with or as if with a curb
legislation to curb price and wage increases
curb your appetite
2
: to lead (a dog) to a suitable place (as a gutter) for defecation

Medical Definition

curb

noun
: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on curb

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!