■ noun
1》 a piece of material suspended at the top to form a screen, typically movable sideways and found as one of a pair at a window.
↘( the ~ ) a screen of heavy cloth or other material that can be raised or lowered at the front of a stage.
↘a raising or lowering of the ~ at the beginning or end of an act or scene.
2》 ( ~s ) informal a disastrous outcome.
■ verb [often as adjective ~ed ] provide with a ~ or ~s.
↘conceal with or as with a ~.
Origin
ME: from OFr. cortine , from late L. cortina , translation of Gk aulaia , from aulē 'court'.