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cu rtain-raiser (curtain-raisers ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] A curtain-raiser is an event, especially a sporting event or a performance, that takes place before a more important one, or starts off a series of events. [JOURNALISM ] □ [+ to ] The game is the curtain-raiser to the National Football League season.

curt|sy /kɜː ^r tsi/ (curtsies , curtsying , curtsied ) also curtsey VERB If a woman or a girl curtsies , she lowers her body briefly, bending her knees and sometimes holding her skirt with both hands, as a way of showing respect for an important person. □ [V + to ] We were taught how to curtsy to the Queen. □ [V ] Ingrid shook the Duchess's hand and curtsied. ● N‑COUNT Curtsy is also a noun. □  She gave a curtsy.

cur|va|ceous /kɜː ^r ve I ʃəs/ ADJ If someone describes a woman as curvaceous , they think she is attractive because of the curves of her body. [APPROVAL ] □  …a curvaceous blonde.

cur|va|ture /kɜː ^r vətʃə ^r / N‑UNCOUNT The curvature of something is its curved shape, especially when this shape is part of the circumference of a circle. [TECHNICAL ] □ [+ of ] …the curvature of the Earth.

curve /kɜː ^r v/ (curves , curving , curved )

1 N‑COUNT A curve is a smooth, gradually bending line, for example part of the edge of a circle. □ [+ of ] …the curve of his lips. □ [+ in ] …a curve in the road.

2 VERB If something curves , or if someone or something curves it, it has the shape of a curve. □ [V ] Her spine curved. □ [V adv/prep] The track curved away below him. □ [V -ing] …a knife with a slightly curving blade. □ [V n] A small, unobtrusive smile curved the cook's thin lips.

3 VERB If something curves , it moves in a curve, for example through the air. □ [V ] The ball curved strangely in the air.

4 N‑COUNT You can refer to a change in something as a particular curve , especially when it is represented on a graph. □  Each firm will face a downward-sloping demand curve.

5 → see also learning curve

6 PHRASE If someone throws you a curve or if they throw you a curve ball , they surprise you by doing something you do not expect. [mainly AM ] □  At the last minute, I threw them a curve ball by saying, 'We're going to bring spouses'.

7 PHRASE People, products or ideas that are ahead of the curve are more advanced or modern than others of their kind. □  Her fashion designs were always ahead of the curve.

curved /kɜː ^r vd/ ADJ A curved object has the shape of a curve or has a smoothly bending surface. □  …a small, curved staircase. □  …the curved lines of the chairs.

curvy /kɜː ^r vi/ ADJ If someone describes a woman as curvy , they think she is attractive because of the curves of her body. [INFORMAL , APPROVAL ]

cush|ion /kʊ ʃ ^ə n/ (cushions , cushioning , cushioned )

1 N‑COUNT A cushion is a fabric case filled with soft material, which you put on a seat to make it more comfortable. □  …a velvet cushion.

2 N‑COUNT A cushion is a soft pad or barrier, especially one that protects something. □  The company provides a styrofoam cushion to protect the tablets during shipping.

3 VERB Something that cushions an object when it hits something protects it by reducing the force of the impact. □ [V n] …a giant airbag to cushion your landing. □ [V n + from ] The suspension is designed to cushion passengers from the effects of rough roads.

4 VERB To cushion the effect of something unpleasant means to reduce it. □ [V n] He was trying to cushion the blow of this terrible news. □ [V n + against ] The subsidies are designed to cushion farmers against unpredictable weather.