curfews
NOUN a rule or a law stating that people must stay indoors between particular times at night
curiosity curiosities
NOUN 1 the desire to know something or about many things
2 something unusual and interesting
curious
ADJECTIVE 1 Someone who is curious wants to know more about something.
SYNONYMS: inquisitive, nosy
2 Something that is curious is unusual or difficult to understand.
SYNONYMS: strange, peculiar
curl curls, curling, curled
NOUN 1 Curls are lengths of hair shaped in tight curves and circles.
2 a curved or spiral shape • A curl of smoke rose from the chimney.
VERB 3 If something curls, it moves in a curve or spiral. • Smoke curled up the chimney.
curly ADJECTIVE
currant currants
NOUN a small, dried grape. Currants are often used in cakes and puddings.
currency currencies
NOUN A country’s currency is its coins and banknotes.
current currents
NOUN 1 a steady continuous flowing movement of water or air
NOUN 2 An electric current is a flow of electricity through a wire or circuit.
ADJECTIVE 3 Something that is current is happening now. • current fashion trends
curriculum curriculums or curricula
NOUN the different courses taught at a school or university
curry curries
NOUN an Indian dish made with hot spices
curse curses, cursing, cursed
NOUN 1 an evil spell • She said the old house had a curse on it.
VERB 2 If you curse, you swear because you are angry.
cursor cursors
NOUN a sign on a computer monitor that shows where the next letter or symbol is
curtain curtains
NOUN a hanging piece of material that can be pulled across a window
curtsy curtsies, curtsying, curtsied
NOUN 1 a little bobbing bow to show respect • I made a little curtsy to the Queen.
VERB 2 the action of making a curtsy
curve curves, curving, curved
NOUN 1 a smooth, gradually bending line
VERB 2 When something curves, it moves in a curve or has the shape of a curve. • The lane curved to the right.
curved ADJECTIVE
cushion cushions, cushioning, cushioned
NOUN 1 a soft object that you put on a seat to make it more comfortable
VERB 2 When something cushions something else, it reduces its effect. • The pile of leaves cushioned his fall.
custard
NOUN a sweet, yellow sauce made from milk and eggs
custody
NOUN 1 If someone has custody of a child, they have the legal right to keep it and look after it.
PHRASE 2 Someone who is in custody is being kept in prison until they can be tried in a court.
[from Latin custos meaning a guard]
custodial ADJECTIVE
custom customs
NOUN something that people usually do • the custom of decorating the house for Christmas
customary
ADJECTIVE usual
customer customers
NOUN a person who buys things from a shop or firm
customs
NOUN the place at a border, airport or harbour where you declare any goods that you are bringing into the country
cut cuts, cutting, cut
VERB 1 If you cut something, you use a pair of scissors, a knife or another sharp tool to mark it or remove parts of it.
2 If you cut yourself, you injure yourself with a sharp object.
NOUN 3 a mark made with a knife or a sharp tool
4 a reduction in something • There were lots of price cuts during the sales.
cutlery
NOUN knives, forks and spoons
cycle cycles, cycling, cycled
NOUN 1 a bicycle
2 a series of events that is repeated again and again • the cycle of the seasons
VERB 3 When you cycle, you ride a bicycle.
cyclist NOUN
cyclone cyclones
NOUN a violent wind that blows in a spiral like a corkscrew
cygnet cygnets
NOUN a young swan
cylinder cylinders
NOUN 1 a hollow or solid shape with straight sides and equal circular faces
See prism
2 the part of an engine that the piston moves in
cylindrical ADJECTIVE
cymbal cymbals
NOUN a circular brass plate used as a percussion instrument. Cymbals are clashed together or hit with a stick.
See
