noun
curator
KYOOR-ay-ter/ˈkjʊreɪtər/
A person who selects and cares for a collection or its presentation.
The curator carefully arranges ancient pots in a museum display case.
Etymology
A curator is literally someone who takes care of something. The broader role of guardian or overseer became specialized for the person responsible for a museum or its collections.
In context
my name is Melissa Cradic. I am Curator at the Bade Museum.
More examples
- The curator chooses paintings for the new exhibition.
- Two curators check the collection for signs of damage.
- As curator of the photography collection, she writes the display labels.
Forms
curator · curators
curate verb — To select and organize items for presentation.
curation noun — The selection and organization of a collection.
Similar words
- custodian
- Emphasizes safekeeping and maintenance rather than selection or presentation.
- archivist
- Specializes in preserving and organizing records and historical documents.