Meaning
In British English, a kerb is the raised edge separating a pavement from the road; the corresponding American spelling for this street feature is curb.
How it is used
Cambridge Dictionary labels kerb as UK English and gives US curb as the equivalent spelling for the edge of a raised path nearest the road. Collins independently defines the British kerb as the raised edge of a pavement separating it from the road and notes curb as the American form.
Examples
- “Wait by the kerb before crossing.”
- “The taxi pulled in close to the kerb.”
- “There's a dropped kerb near the crossing.”
Pronunciation
/kɜːb/ · KURB
Tone and register
Neutral and standard in British English. The spelling kerb is not slang or decorative variation; it is the normal British spelling for this road-edge noun.
Visitor guidance
Visitors can read kerb as the British spelling of curb when the subject is the physical edge of the pavement. Do not automatically replace every occurrence of English curb with kerb: curb is also a verb meaning restrain or limit, and that general word keeps the spelling curb in British English. Parking restrictions, dropped-kerb rules, accessibility requirements, and crossing rules are live legal matters and should be checked separately.
Cultural context
Kerb is a useful spelling distinction because it appears on British road-safety material, planning documents, accessibility information, local reporting, and everyday descriptions. Pairing it with pavement also helps North American visitors map two British street terms at once: pavement for sidewalk and kerb for curb.
Places represented
Open the reviewed place guide for each regional sense carried by this canonical entry.