curio

[ kyoo r-ee-oh ]
/ ˈkyʊər iˌoʊ /

noun, plural cu·ri·os.

any unusual article, object of art, etc., valued as a curiosity.

QUIZZES

PRACTICE SOME ESCAPISM WITH THIS WORD OF THE DAY QUIZ!

We salute you if you remember all the doovers from Word of the Day between May 25 and May 31!
Question 1 of 7
salute
to call out to in order to stop, attract attention, ask aid, etc.
to wield power; exercise rule.
to express respect or praise for; honor; commend.
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of curio

First recorded in 1850–55; shortened from curiosity

Words nearby curio

curie, curie point, curie's law, curie, marie, curie-weiss law, curio, curiosa, curiosity, curiosity killed the cat, curious, curite
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Words related to curios

antique, trinket, trifle, toy, bygone, bauble, collectible, whatnot, bibelot

Example sentences from the Web for curios

British Dictionary definitions for curios

curio
/ (ˈkjʊərɪˌəʊ) /

noun plural -rios

a small article valued as a collector's item, esp something fascinating or unusual

Word Origin for curio

C19: shortened from curiosity
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012