curfew C2 Topic:Law & Government US /ˈkɝ.fju/ UK /ˈkɜː.fjuː/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 noun a rule requiring people to remain indoors or at home during specified hours The town imposed a curfew after the storm damaged the street lighting. 2 noun the time by which someone must be home or an activity must stop Her curfew was ten o'clock, so she caught the earlier bus. 3 noun a signal, such as a bell, announcing that an evening restriction has begun The curfew rang from the tower as the market closed. 4 noun historical: a rule requiring household fires to be put out or covered at a set evening hour The historian explained how a medieval curfew reduced the danger of fire. 5 noun historical: a cover placed over a fire to contain its embers A metal curfew rested beside the old hearth. Thesaurus Word family Related forms restriction Etymology From an Old French expression meaning cover fire, through Middle English. Topics Law & Government External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # curfew **Type:** Word **Level:** C2 **Part of speech:** noun **IPA (US):** /ˈkɝ.fju/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈkɜː.fjuː/ ## Meanings 1. a rule requiring people to remain indoors or at home during specified hours 2. the time by which someone must be home or an activity must stop 3. a signal, such as a bell, announcing that an evening restriction has begun 4. historical: a rule requiring household fires to be put out or covered at a set evening hour 5. historical: a cover placed over a fire to contain its embers ## Examples - The town imposed a curfew after the storm damaged the street lighting. - Her curfew was ten o'clock, so she caught the earlier bus. - The curfew rang from the tower as the market closed. - The historian explained how a medieval curfew reduced the danger of fire. - A metal curfew rested beside the old hearth. ## Related Forms - restriction ## Etymology From an Old French expression meaning cover fire, through Middle English. ## Topics - Law & Government markdown