noun
curse
kurs
noun
1
A spell or supernatural force believed to bring harm or bad luck.
"Legend says the tomb carries an ancient curse."
"The family blamed their run of bad luck on a curse."
2
A rude or offensive word used to express anger.
"He muttered a curse when he stubbed his toe."
verb
1
To wish harm on someone, or to swear angrily.
"She cursed under her breath when she missed the bus."
"The witch cursed the prince, turning him into a frog."
How to Use Curse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA wish for bad luck to fall on someone, or the act of swearing.
Common pairings
under a curse
curse word
curse at someone
Word Forms
cursed past tense, curst past tense, curses plural, curses singular
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Legend says the tomb carries an ancient _____.
Etymology
From Old English curs, of unknown origin — one of the few common English words with no clear ancestor further back.