Question 1 · Quick check
curtail
/kɜːˈteɪl/
verb · noun
Türkçe translations
Translating…
In plain English
- 01
verb
To reduce or limit something.
- 02
verb
Extra detailTo limit or restrict; to keep in check.
Examples
The aim is to curtail dependence on countries such as Taiwan for chips.
Their efforts to curtail spending didn't quite succeed.
At a glance
Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale
- Senses
- 5
- Parts of speech
- 2
- Citations
- 3
- Synonyms
- 5
Deep Dive
verb
Extra meaningsTo shorten or abridge the duration of; to bring an end to; to truncate.
To cut short the tail of (an animal).
noun
Extra meaningA scroll termination, as of a step, etc.
More examples
In contextWhen the audience grew restless, the speaker curtailed her speech.
Curtailing horses procured long horse-hair.
This is the rump of the C.L.C. branch to Southport Lord Street, which lost its passenger services beyond Aintree from January 7, 1952, whereupon the timetable between Gateacre and Aintree was greatly curtailed.
Related
Quick test
Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.
Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.
Nearby
Origin
verb
Alteration of curtal, from Old French courtault (“which has been shortened”), itself from court (“short”) (from Latin curtus) + -ault