curio

[ kyoo r-ee-oh ]

/ ˈkyʊər iˌoʊ /

noun, plural cu·ri·os.

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

Words nearby curio

curie, curie point, curie's law, curie, marie, curie-weiss law, curio, curiosa, curiosity, curiosity killed the cat, curious, curite

Origin of curio

First recorded in 1850–55; shortened from curiosity

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for curios

A part was devoted to collections of Indian curios and relics, and this department was always crowded with visitors.
Lyman's History of old Walla Walla County, Vol. 1 (of 2)|William Denison Lyman
The curios were very fond of Von Barwig, and he took quite an interest in them.
The Music Master|Charles Klein
He lives in a luxuriously appointed home, with many fine pictures and works of art and curios which it is enjoyable to have.
Quiet Talks on Following the Christ|S. D. Gordon
But the Actons have long since departed, their relics and curios have been dispersed, and the place thereof knoweth them no more.
Nooks and Corners of Shropshire|H. Thornhill Timmins

"Mr. Lyne was very fond of distributing the curios he brought from the East to his friends," he went on.
The Daffodil Mystery|Edgar Wallace

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

curio

noun, plural cu·ri·os.

Words related to curio

Words nearby curio

Origin of curio

Examples from the Web for curios

British Dictionary definitions for curios

noun plural -rios

Word Origin for curio