Dictionary

curiosity en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˌkjʊə.ɹiˈɒs.ɪ.ti/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• [-ə.ɾi] (Atlantic-Canada, General-American)
• kyûr'ēŏsʹətē (Atlantic-Canada, General-American)
• (California) audio
• kyo͝or'ēŏsʹətē (Atlantic-Canada, General-American)
• kyôr'ēŏsʹĭtē (Received-Pronunciation)
• [-ɪ.ɾi] (Atlantic-Canada, General-American)
• kyo͝o'rŏsʹətē (dialectal, informal)
• /ˌkjʊəˈɹɒsəti/ (dialectal, informal)
• kyû'rŏsʹətē (dialectal, informal)
• /-ɪ.ti/ (Atlantic-Canada, General-American)
• (New-Jersey) audio
• /ˌkjɔːˈɹɒsəti/ (dialectal, informal)
• /ˌkjɝˈɒsəti/ (dialectal, informal)
• /ˌkjʊɹ.iˈɑ.sə.ti/ (Atlantic-Canada, General-American)
• kyô'rŏsʹətē (dialectal, informal)
• /ˌkjɝ.iˈɑ.sə.ti/ (Atlantic-Canada, General-American)
• kyo͝or'ēŏsʹĭtē (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˌkjɔːɹiˈɒs.ɪ.ti/ (Received-Pronunciation)

Etymology

From Middle English curiosite, variant of curiouste, from Anglo-Norman curiouseté, from Latin cūriōsitātem, accusative of cūriōsitās. By surface analysis, curious + -ity. Displaced native Old English firwitt.

Meanings

1. (uncountable) Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask and learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring.
   • Curiosity about the power of self-control skills, which include conscientiousness, self-discipline, and perseverance, arose from recent empirical observations that preschool Head Start, an ambitious, federally funded program of special services launched in 1965 to boost the intellectual development of needy children, has failed to achieve the goal of boosting IQ scores. But the programs have unexpectedly succeeded in lowering the former pupils’ rates of teen pregnancy, school dropout, delinquency, and work absenteeism. 2013 September-October, Terrie Moffitt et al., “Lifelong Impact of Early Self-Control”, in American Scientist:
   • They learn that reading, besides being something one does at school, is also something one can do on one's own, for fun, to satisfy curiosity, or even to "expand one's horizons.” 1972, Mortimer J. Adler, Charles Van Doren, How to Read a Book, →ISBN, →LCCN, page 25:
   • It was the first time that the lawyer had been received in that part of his friend's quarters; and he eyed the dingy windowless structure with curiosity, and gazed round with a distasteful sense of strangeness as he crossed the theatre, […] 1886 January 5, Robert Louis Stevenson, “Incident of the Letter”, in Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., →OCLC, page 44:
   • "Certainly there is nothing wrong with Alvin's intelligence, but many of the things that should concern him seem to be a matter of complete indifference. On the other hand, he shows a morbid curiosity regarding subjects which we do not generally discuss." 1956, Arthur C. Clarke, The City and the Stars, page 39:
2. (countable, uncountable) A unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest.
   • He put the strangely shaped rock in his curiosity cabinet.
   • The loss of his tye-periwig and laced hat, which were curiosities of the kind, did not at all contribute to the improvement of the picture […]. 1751, [Tobias] Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle […], volume (please specify |volume=I to IV), London: Harrison and Co., […], →OCLC:
   • [The room] was adorned with a great number of nicknacks and curiosities, which might have engaged the attention of a virtuoso. 1749, Henry Fielding, The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC:
3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Careful, delicate construction; fine workmanship, delicacy of building.
   • wee built a homely thing like a barne, set upon Cratchets, covered with rafts, sedge, and earth, so also was the walls; the best of our houses of the like curiosity, but the most part farre much worse workmanship […] 1631, John Smith, Advertisements, Kupperman, published 1988, page 81:

Forms

Antonyms

ignorance

Deriveds

public curiosity · curio · bi-curiosity · curiosity killed the cat · uncuriosity

Relateds

curious

Synonyms

inquisitiveness

Translations (122)

it curiosità (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · tr meraklılık (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ru любопы́тство (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · fa کنجکاوی (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sv kuriositet (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · nl curiositeit (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · mr कुतूहल (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh љубопитност (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · mi mokamokai (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · hi जिज्ञासा (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · el περιέργεια (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · he סקרנות (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh љубопитство (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · fi uteliaisuus (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh радозналост (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · la cūriōsitās (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh знатижеља (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh ljubopitnost (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ar فُضُول (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · bg ря́дкост (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · ro curiozitate (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · he קוריוז (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · de Kuriosität (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · sh znatiželja (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · th ความอยากรู้ (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · lv ziņkārība (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · kmr tatol (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · id rasa penasaran (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · kmr balkêşî (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · lt žingeidumas (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh куриозѝте̄т (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · az maraq (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sl radovednost (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · kmr mereq (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh znatiželjnost (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · haw nīele (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · bg любозна́телност (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · cmn 有意思的東西 /有意思的东西 (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · uk рі́дкість (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · te కుతూహలం (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · tr merak (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · cmn 好奇心 (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ru пытли́вость (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ca curiositat (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · bg курио́з (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · uk ціка́вість (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · tl kuryosidad (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh zanìmljivōst (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · kmr xemxwerî (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · de Neugier (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · eo scivolemo (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · vi tính/sự tò mò (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · th ความอยากรู้อยากเห็น (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · pt curiosidade (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · mr जिज्ञासा (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · hu érdekesség (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · fr curiosité (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · cmn 好奇 (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · bg любопи́тство (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · lv ziņkāre (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh знатижељност (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · de Kuriosum (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · mi mōkaikai (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · gl curiosidade (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · es curiosidad (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh radoznalost (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · da nysgerrighed (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ru ре́дкость (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · id kepenasaranan (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ang firwitgeornnes (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ta அறிவார்வம் (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ja 好奇心 (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh kuriozìtēt (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · de Neugierde (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · fi kuriositeetti (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · sv nyfikenhet (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · et kurioosum (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · uk диви́на (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · kmr etir (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · fr curiosité (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · sh љубопитљивост (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · cy chwilfrydedd (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · id keingintahuan (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · tr ucûbe (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · kmr tatêl (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ro curiozitate (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sq kurreshtje (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ang firwitt (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · kmr çavzêlkî (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · tr tuhaflık (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · ca curiositat (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · is forvitni (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ta ஆர்வம் (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · it curiosità (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · eo scivoleco (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · am ጉጉት (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · cs kuriozita (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · lt smalsumas (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ko 호기심 (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · hu kíváncsiság (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh ljubopitstvo (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ru курьёз (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · pl ciekawość (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · gl curiosidade (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ru любозна́тельность (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · cs zvědavost (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · et uudishimu (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ja 珍奇 (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · mk љубопитност (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · fi erikoisuus (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · pl ciekawostka (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · eu jakinmin (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · nb nysgjerrighet (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sv kuriosum (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · ru дико́вина (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · nl nieuwsgierigheid (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · ta அறிவாவல் (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh ljubopitljivost (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · pt curiosidade (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · kmr hewes (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore) · sh занѝмљиво̄ст (unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest) · vi tính/sự ham biết (inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask questions, investigate, or explore)