n.
Pronunciation: ' k ə rb
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle French courbe curve, curved piece of wood or iron, from courbe curved, from Latin curvus
Date: 15th century
1 : a bit that exerts severe pressure on a horse's jaws also : the chain or strap attached to it ― see BIT illustration
2 : an enclosing frame, border, or edging
3 : CHECK , RESTRAINT <a price curb >
4 : a raised edge or margin to strengthen or confine
5 : an edging (as of concrete) built along a street to form part of a gutter
6 [from the fact that it orig. transacted its business on the street] : a market for trading in securities not listed on a stock exchange