From Middle French courbe, from Latin curvus.

• (America) IPA: /kɝb/
• (RP) IPA: /kɜːb/

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 (first performance), [John Denham], The Sophy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1667, →OCLC ↗, Act IV, pages [44A]–45 ↗:

     Even by theſe Men, Religion, that ſhould be / The curb, is made the ſpur to tyranny: / They with their double key of conſcience bind / The Subjects ſouls, and leave Kings unconfin'd; […]

   • 1643, John Milton, Doctrine and Discipline of Divorce:

     The same also is that burning mention’d by S. Paul, whereof mariage ought to be the remedy; the Flesh hath other naturall and easie curbs which are in the power of any temperate man..

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.

   • [1877], Anna Sewell, “A London Cab Horse”, in Black Beauty: […], London: Jarrold and Sons, […], →OCLC ↗, part III, page 158 ↗:

     Captain went out in the cab all the morning. Harry came in after school to feed me and give me water. In the afternoon I was put into the cab. Jerry took as much pains to see if the collar and bridle fitted comfortably, as if he had been John Manly over again. When the crupper was let out a hole or two, it all fitted well. There was no bearing rein—no curb—nothing but a plain ring snaffle. What a blessing that was!

5. (North America) 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.

• German: Beschränkung, Zurückhaltung, Zwang, Einschränkung, Mäßigung, Beherrschung, Drosselung, Einhalt, Dämpfung
• Portuguese: freio

• German: Falz, Aufkantung, Flansch, Rippe, Grat

• German: Kandare, Zügel, Hasenhacke

curb (curbs, present participle curbing; simple past and past participle curbed)

1. (transitive) To check, restrain or control.

   Synonyms: behedge, curtail, limit, Thesaurus:curb

   Curb your dog

   • 1718, Mat[thew] Prior, “Solomon on the Vanity of the World. A Poem in Three Books.”, in Poems on Several Occasions, London: […] Jacob Tonson […], and John Barber […], →OCLC ↗, (please specify the page):

     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.

   Synonyms: bow, flex, incurvate, Thesaurus:bend

   • 1603, Plutarch, “The Third Booke of Philosophers Opinions. Chap. V. Of the Rainbow.”, in Philemon Holland, transl., The Philosophie, Commonlie Called, The Morals […], London: […] Arnold Hatfield, →OCLC ↗, page 828 ↗:

     [B]y crooked and curbed lines, wee looke within the water; for our eie ſight doth bend and turne againe perforce, by reason that the matter of the water is more thicke; which is the cauſe, that we ſee the mariners oare in the ſea a farre off, as it were crooked.

8. (intransitive) To crouch; to cringe.

   Synonyms: bend, fawn, stoop

   • c. 1599–1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC ↗, [Act III, scene iv]:

     Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, / Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good.

• Russian: обуздать

• curby
• curvature
• curve
• curvy