curiosity

American  

[kyoor-ee-os-i-tee] / ˌkyʊər iˈɒs ɪ ti /

noun

plural

curiosities

1. the desire to learn or know about anything; inquisitiveness.

   The lesson provoked their curiosity about the natural world.

   She feels that tolerance is fed by knowledge, an open mind, and curiosity about others.

2. a curious, rare, or novel thing.

   Exhibits on display will include such curiosities as preserved smells, infrared briefcases, and cameras hidden in coats.

3. a strange, curious, or interesting quality or feature.

   How bankers from Nova Scotia set up in the Caribbean in the 1880s is a curiosity of financial history.

   One of the human brain's many curiosities is its tendency to see faces in abstract shapes.

4. Archaic. carefulness; fastidiousness.

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idioms

1. curiosity killed the cat, being too inquisitive is dangerous.

   I'd really like to know what's going on in the boss's head, but then, curiosity killed the cat.

curiosity British  

/ ˌkjʊərɪˈɒsɪtɪ /

noun

1. an eager desire to know; inquisitiveness

2. 1. the quality of being curious; strangeness

   2. ( as modifier )

      the ring had curiosity value only

3. something strange or fascinating

4. a rare or strange object; curio

5. obsolete fastidiousness

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Other Word Forms

• noncuriosity noun
• overcuriosity noun

Etymology

Origin of curiosity

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English curiosite, either from Anglo-French or directly from Latin cūriōsitās, from cūriōs(us) curious + -itās -ity

Example Sentences

I listened to the scratch of the pen’s nib and burned with curiosity.

From Literature

Arnold said none of her other cats has shown the same interest in the Roomba, though a feral orange cat named Garfield that joined the family last year is expressing some curiosity.

From The Wall Street Journal

It was such a massive loss that was deeply felt, because of her spectacular career in movies, but the way she looked at the world with curiosity and bemusement.

From Los Angeles Times

"We are at a turning point: quantum structured light is no longer just a scientific curiosity, but a tool with real potential to transform communication, computing and image processing."

From Science Daily

Out of curiosity, he ran that same evidence through an AI tool.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• concern
• inquisitiveness
• interest