curbing
[kur-bing]
- the material forming a curb, as along a street.
- curbstones collectively.
- a curb or a section of a curb.
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Also British, kerb·ing.
Origin of curbing
curb
[kurb]
- Also British, kerb. a rim, especially of joined stones or concrete, along a street or roadway, forming an edge for a sidewalk.
- anything that restrains or controls; a restraint; check.
- an enclosing framework or border.
- Also called curb bit. a bit used with a bridoon for control of a horse, to which a chain (curb chain) is hooked.
- Also called curb market; British, kerb market, kerbstone market. a market, originally on the sidewalk or street, for the sale of securities not listed on a stock exchange.Compare American Stock Exchange.
- the framework around the top of a well.
- the arris between an upper and a lower slope on a gambrel or mansard roof.
- a belt of metal, masonry, etc., for abutting a dome at its base.
- (in a windmill) the track on which the cap turns.
- Veterinary Pathology. a swelling on the lower part of the back of the hock of a horse, often causing lameness.
- Engineering. the cutting edge at the bottom of a caisson.
- Carpentry. purlin plate.
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- to control as with a curb; restrain; check.
- to cause to keep near the curb: Curb your dog.
- Also British, kerb. to furnish with or protect by a curb.
- to put a curb on (a horse).
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Origin of curb
1250–1300; Middle English curb, courbe curved piece of wood (noun), stooped, hunchbacked (adj.) < Anglo-French curb, courb curved, bowed; Old French < Latin curvus crooked, bent, curved. See curve
Synonyms
See more synonyms for curb on Thesaurus.com13. bridle, repress.
Synonym study
13. See check1.
Antonyms
13. encourage.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for curbing
Contemporary Examples
Perhaps the threat of legal action has also played a role in curbing the horde of dyspeptic deviants.
‘The Fappening’ Is Dead: From A-List Hacking Victims to D-Listers Accused of Leaking Nudes For PRMarlow Stern
October 18, 2014
This can change—but by curbing tuition inflation, not by extending more loans.
This is not the work of a person interested in “curbing spending,” as Lew argues.
This is a smart move, and will be far more important to curbing unauthorized immigration than token efforts at border security.
The challenges in the longer term are to raise revenue while curbing the cost of health.
Historical Examples
She stopped him with a shudder, and Eric found a difficulty in curbing his impatience.
The Education of Eric LaneStephen McKenna
The driver advanced at a walk, keeping as close as possible to the curbing.
The Web of the Golden SpiderFrederick Orin Bartlett
A quickening of his pace, and he met her just as she stepped to the curbing.
The Cross-CutCourtney Ryley Cooper
The group now sat down on the curbing, while the Negro walked away.
The Hindered HandSutton E. Griggs
Other questions could be postponed; the question of curbing the king could not.
The Critical Period of American HistoryJohn Fiske
curbing
- the US spelling of kerbing
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curb1
- something that restrains or holds back
- any enclosing framework, such as a wall of stones around the top of a well
- Also called: curb bita horse's bit with an attached chain or strap, which checks the horse
- Also called: curb chainthe chain or strap itself
- a hard swelling on the hock of a horse
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- to control with or as if with a curb; restrain
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See also kerb
Word Origin
C15: from Old French courbe curved piece of wood or metal, from Latin curvus curved
curb2
- vet science a swelling on the leg of a horse, below the point of the hock, usually caused by a sprain
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Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for curbing
curb
v.
1520s, of horses, "to lead to a curb," from curb (n.). Figurative use from 1580s. Related: Curbed; curbing.
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curb
n.
late 15c., "strap passing under the jaw of a horse" (used to restrain the animal), from Old French courbe (12c.) "curb on a horse," from Latin curvus, from curvare "to bend" (see curve (v.)). Meaning "enclosed framework" is from 1510s, probably originally with a notion of "curved;" extended to margins of garden beds 1731; to "margin of stone between a sidewalk and road" 1791 (sometimes spelled kerb). Figurative sense of "a check, a restraint" is from 1610s.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper