curtail
/kɜːˈteɪl/
Group 16Difficulty 1/3
Definition
- (verb)
- To reduce in extent or quantity; to impose a restriction on GRE
Example in Context
Budget shortfalls forced the university to curtail library hours, a decision that drew immediate protest from students and faculty alike.
Synonyms
cut shortreducelimit
Etymology
Means to cut off the tail end of something, reducing it.
- cur- (Latin) — to cut
- tail (Old French) — tail
Memory Aid
✂️Sounds like “curtail”
Picture a dog with its TAIL getting CURT off by a scissor-wielding stylist — that's how you CURTAIL the fluff!
Visual Association
✂️A pair of scissors snipping the tail of a fluffy dog, reducing its size dramatically.
Semantic Clusters
Synonym Groups
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “curtail” mean on the GRE?
curtail (verb) means “To reduce in extent or quantity; to impose a restriction on”. Budget shortfalls forced the university to curtail library hours, a decision that drew immediate protest from students and faculty alike.
How to remember “curtail” for the GRE?
Mnemonic: “curtail” sounds like “curtail”. Picture a dog with its TAIL getting CURT off by a scissor-wielding stylist — that's how you CURTAIL the fluff!
What are synonyms for “curtail”?
Common synonyms: cut short, reduce, limit.