curtain

S2 W2

BrE /ˈkɜːtən/ AmE /ˈkɜːrtən/

noun en → es

1 WINDOW COVERING [singular] A1

a piece of material that hangs in front of a window to cover it and keep out light or cold air

cortina, telón

  • curtain + colour

Collocations curtain rail · curtain pole

  • She drew the curtains closed.

    Ella cerró las cortinas.

2 THEATER [singular] B1

a piece of material that hangs across a stage and can be pulled back to show the actors or scenery

telón, cortina de escenario

  • curtain + colour
  • The curtain rose to reveal the actors.

    El telón se levantó para revelar a los actores.

3 SECRET [singular] B2

a secret or something that is not known about someone or something

secreto, misterio

  • curtain + of secrecy/mystery
  • The curtain of secrecy surrounding the case was finally lifted.

    El velo de secreto que rodeaba el caso finalmente se levantó.

Phrasal verbs

draw a curtain CLOSE WINDOW COVERING B1

cerrar una cortina

  • She drew the curtains closed.

    Ella cerró las cortinas.

pull back a curtain REVEAL B1

levantar una cortina, abrir un telón

  • He pulled the curtains back to let in more light.

    Él levantó las cortinas para dejar entrar más luz.

Idioms

draw a curtain over something C1

poner un velo sobre algo, cerrar un capítulo

  • It's time to draw a curtain over the past and move on.

    Es hora de poner un velo sobre el pasado y seguir adelante.

pull back the curtain C1

levantar la cortina, revelar algo

  • The scandal pulled back the curtain on a world of corruption.

    El escándalo levantó la cortina sobre un mundo de corrupción.