different between barrier vs curb

English

Etymology

From Middle English barryer, barrere, barry?er, from Old French barriere (compare French barrière), from Old French barre (“bar”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /?bæ?i.?(?)/
• (US, Mary–marry–merry distinction) IPA^(key): /?bæ?i.??/
• (US, Mary–marry–merry merger) IPA^(key): /?b??i.??/
• Rhymes: -æ?i?(?)

Noun

barrier (plural barriers)

1. A structure that bars passage.

   The bus went through a railway barrier and was hit by a train.

   The bomber had passed through one checkpoint before blowing himself up at a second barrier.

2. An obstacle or impediment.

   Even a small fee can be a barrier for some students.
3. A boundary or limit.

   Few marathon runners break the three-hour time barrier.

1. (grammar) A node (in government and binding theory) said to intervene between other nodes A and B if it is a potential governor for B, c-commands B, and does not c-command A.
2. (physiology) A separation between two areas of the body where specialized cells allow the entry of certain substances but prevent the entry of others.
3. (historical) The lists in a tournament.
4. (historical, in the plural) A martial exercise of the 15th and 16th centuries.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:hindrance

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

barrier (third-person singular simple present barriers, present participle barriering, simple past and past participle barriered)

1. (transitive) To block or obstruct with a barrier.

   Synonym: bar

English

Alternative forms

• kerb (British) (noun, and verb senses 3, 4 and 5 only)

Etymology

From Middle French courbe (“curve, curved object”), from Latin curvus (“bent, crooked, curved”). Doublet of curve.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /k?b/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /k??b/
• Rhymes: -??(?)b
• Homophone: kerb

Noun

curb (plural curbs)

1. (American spelling, Canadian spelling) A concrete margin along the edge of a road; a kerb (UK, Australia, New Zealand)
2. A raised margin along the edge of something, such as a well or the eye of a dome, as a strengthening.
3. Something that checks or restrains; a restraint.
   • 1641, John Denham, The Sophy

     Even by these Men, Religion, that should be / The Curb, is made the Spur to Tyranny.
4. A riding or driving bit for a horse that has rein action which amplifies the pressure in the mouth by leverage advantage placing pressure on the poll via the crown piece of the bridle and chin groove via a curb chain.
   • 1605, Michael Drayton, The Fourth Eclogue

     He that before ran in the pastures wild / Felt the stiff curb controul his angry jaws.

5. (Canada, US) A sidewalk, covered or partially enclosed, bordering the airport terminal road system with adjacent paved areas to permit vehicles to off-load or load passengers.
6. A swelling on the back part of the hind leg of a horse, just behind the lowest part of the hock joint, generally causing lameness.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

curb (third-person singular simple present curbs, present participle curbing, simple past and past participle curbed)

1. (transitive) To check, restrain or control.
   • 1718, Matthew Prior, Solomon on the Vanity of the World

     Where pinching want must curb her warm desires.
2. (transitive) To rein in.
3. (transitive) To furnish with a curb, as a well; to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth.
4. (transitive, slang) Ellipsis of curb stomp.
5. (transitive) To bring to a stop beside a curb.
6. (transitive) To damage vehicle wheels or tires by running into or over a pavement curb.
7. (transitive) To bend or curve.
   • 1603, Philemon Holland (translator), The Philosophie, commonly called, the Morals (originally by Plutarch)

     crooked and curbed lines

8. (intransitive) To crouch; to cringe.

Synonyms

• (check, restrain, control): behedge, curtail, limit; See also Thesaurus:curb
• (rein in):
• (furnish with a curb):
• (force to hit the curb): curb stomp
• (damage wheels on a curb):
• (bend or curve): bow, flex, incurvate; See also Thesaurus:bend
• (crouch or cringe): bend, fawn, stoop

Translations

Related terms

• curvaceous
• curvature
• curve
• curvy

Further reading

• curb in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• curb in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• curb at OneLook Dictionary Search

Romanian

Etymology

From French courbe.

Adjective

curb m or n (feminine singular curb?, masculine plural curbi, feminine and neuter plural curbe)

1. curve

Declension