curbside
KERB-syd
/ˈkɜːrbsaɪd/
The side of a pavement or highway; specifically, the area next to the curb where waste is collected.
Usually refers to municipal waste collection services directly from residential properties, as opposed to drop-off centers or commercial dumpsters.
The story behind the word. The word 'curb' originally referred to a curved strap used to control a horse, and later to a curved stone border of a path. Combined with the Old English 'side', 'curbside' became the standard term in the 20th century for the edge of suburban streets where trash trucks make their rounds.
Word relationships
- roadside: Roadside is a general term for the side of any road, whereas curbside specifically implies an urban or suburban street with a concrete curb.
- drop-off: Drop-off refers to a central facility where residents must bring their waste, rather than having it collected at their home's curbside.
Commonly confused with
- curb: The 'curb' is the stone or concrete edge of a sidewalk, while 'curbside' is the general area immediately adjacent to that edge.
Collocations
- curbside collection
- curbside recycling
- curbside pickup
- leave at the curbside
Example sentences
- "Please place your recycling bins at the curbside before 7:00 AM on collection day." Instructions for trash day.
- "The city expanded its curbside composting program to include multi-family apartment buildings." An article about municipal services.
Memory hook
Picture your recycling bin sitting right on the 'curb' at the 'side' of the road. Curbside: Right on the curb, ready for pickup.
When not to use
Do not use in highly formal scientific papers; use terms like 'municipal residential collection' instead.
Fun facts
- In the UK and Australia, this is spelled 'kerbside', though the pronunciation remains exactly the same.
Related words
Explore more words
Also appears in
Take your vocabulary further with LangBlitz
Our English vocabulary app: FSRS spaced repetition, 5,000+ curated words across 119 topic groups, CEFR A1 to C2. Explore your mastery with the beautiful Vocabulary World feature.