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

And following a surge in popularity in recent years, going to Benidorm has even caught the curiosity of some staunch Cheltenham attendees.

From BBC

The doomed romances, too—particularly between luminaries whose intellectual or artistic curiosity doesn’t extend to compassion for the people they claim to love.

From The Wall Street Journal

Residents and tourists who were out shopping or tanning on the beach of this gleaming business hub of the United Arab Emirates watched with curiosity as missiles were intercepted above them like loud, daytime fireworks.

From The Wall Street Journal

The weight of everyone’s attention dropped on me, the intense curiosity as they suddenly became aware of an invisible person in their midst.

From Literature

Something about this letter sent prickles up my arm and made me feel uneasy, but my curiosity got the better of me, and I unfolded it and read.

From Literature

Related Words

• concern
• inquisitiveness
• interest