curb Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun an edge between a sidewalk and a roadway consisting of a line of curbstones (usually forming part of a gutter)
    kerb; curbing.
  2. noun a horse's bit with an attached chain or strap to check the horse
    curb bit.
  3. noun a stock exchange in New York
    American Stock Exchange; AMEX.
  4. noun the act of restraining power or action or limiting excess
    bridle; check.
    • his common sense is a bridle to his quick temper
  5. verb lessen the intensity of; temper; hold in restraint; hold or keep within limits
    control; moderate; hold in; contain; hold; check.
    • moderate your alcohol intake
    • hold your tongue
    • hold your temper
    • control your anger
  6. verb to put down by force or authority
    inhibit; stamp down; subdue; suppress; conquer.
    • suppress a nascent uprising
    • stamp down on littering
    • conquer one's desires
  7. verb keep to the curb
    • curb your dogs
  8. verb place restrictions on
    restrict; curtail; cut back.
    • curtail drinking in school

WordNet

Curb transitive verb
Etymology
F. courber to bend, curve, L.curvare, fr. curvus bent, curved; cf. Gr. curved. Cf. Curve.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Curbed present participle & verbal noun Curbing
Definitions
  1. To bend or curve Obs.
    Crooked and curbed lines. Holland.
  2. To guide and manage, or restrain, as with a curb; to bend to one's will; to subject; to subdue; to restrain; to confine; to keep in check.
    Part wield their arms, part curb the foaming steed. Milton.
    Where pinching want must curbthy warm desires. Prior.
  3. To furnish wich a curb, as a well; also, to restrain by a curb, as a bank of earth.
Curb intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To bend; to crouch; to cringe. Obs.
    Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. Shak.
Curb noun
Definitions
  1. That which curbs, restrains, or subdues; a check or hindbrance; esp., a chain or strap attached to the upper part of the branches of a bit, and capable of being drawn tightly against the lower jaw of the horse.
    He that before ran in the pastures wild Felt the stiff curb control his angry jaws. Drayton.
    By these men, religion,that should be The curb, is made the spur of tyranny. Denham.
  2. (Arch.) An assemblage of three or more pieces of timber, or a metal member, forming a frame around an opening, and serving to maintain the integrity of that opening; also, a ring of stone serving a similar purpose, as at the eye of a dome.
  3. A frame or wall round the mouth of a well; also, a frame within a well to prevent the earth caving in.
  4. A curbstone.
  5. (Far.) 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. James Law.

Webster 1913