Dictionary

cute en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /kjuːt/
• (US) audio

Etymology

Aphetic form of acute, originally meaning “keenly perceptive or discerning, shrewd” (1731). Meaning transferred to “pretty, fetching” by US students (slang) c. 1834. Meaning drifted further to describe the pleasing attraction to features usually possessed by the young.

Meanings

1. Possessing physical features, behaviors, personality traits or other properties that are mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals; e.g. fair, dainty, round, and soft physical features, disproportionately large eyes and head, playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity or shyness, innocence, affectionate behavior.
   • Our reaction to cute attributes is understood as the way nature ensures mammals care for their young.
2. Lovable, charming, attractive or pleasing, especially in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way.
   • Let's go to the mall and look for cute girls.
3. Sexually attractive or pleasing; gorgeous.
   • He's got such cute buns.
   • I ordered her to strip for me and made her wiggle her cute little ass as she took off her panties. 2010, Vernon J. Geberth, Sex-Related Homicide and Death Investigation, page 116:
4. Affected or contrived to charm; mincingly clever; precious; cutesy.
   • Don't get cute with me, boy!
   • The actor's performance was too cute for me. All that mugging to the audience killed the humor.
   • "This time we aren't interested in anything cute or cryptic. We want the truth." 1957 May 14, William P. McGivern, Alfred Hitchcock's Suspense Magazine, page 102, column 2:
5. Mentally keen or discerning (See also acute)
   • Cute trick, but can you do it consistently?
   • 'Filled with old doddering peers, cute financial magnates, clever wirepullers, big brewers with bulbous noses. All the enemies of progress are there — weaklings, sleek, slug, comfortable, self-important individuals. 1908, Winston Churchill, Letter to his fianceé Clementine:
   • "The police are cute enough, of course, to choose either a Roman Catholic or a materialist as the magistrate." 1925 July – 1926 May, A[rthur] Conan Doyle, “(please specify the chapter number)”, in The Land of Mist (eBook no. 0601351h.html), Australia: Project Gutenberg Australia, published April 2019:
   • Then Turpin being so very cute, He hid his money in his boot. ca. 1850. Anonymous, "Turpin Hero" (broadside ballad, probably originally dating to 18th century)
6. (especially) Evincing cleverness; surprising in its elegance or unconventionality (but of limited importance).
   • We state a cute result that can be derived from our calcuations^([sic]). It is not applied anywhere later, but shows that graphs with heavy tails and large clustering coefficients have large cores. 2012, “Vertex neighborhoods, low conductance cuts, and good seeds for local community methods”, in Proceedings of the 18th ACM SIGKDD international conference on Knowledge discovery and data mining:
   • There's a cute alternative proof of this using lambda calculus.
   • Cute solution to pin one Knight by unpinning the other and so force discovered guard for the Bishop: it took me hours to find that Bishop key. 1963, The Tablet, volume 217:

Forms

Deriveds

cuteful (Terms derived from cute) · cute as corn (Terms derived from cute) · cutify (Terms derived from cute) · noncute (Terms derived from cute) · cuteish (Terms derived from cute) · uncute (Terms derived from cute) · cuteness (Terms derived from cute) · cutesy (Terms derived from cute) · cutely (Terms derived from cute) · cute as a pin (Terms derived from cute) · cutesome (Terms derived from cute) · cutification (Terms derived from cute) · cute hoor (Terms derived from cute) · cutensil (Terms derived from cute) · cute as a bug in a rug (Terms derived from cute) · cute and funny (Terms derived from cute) · supercute (Terms derived from cute) · cutester (Terms derived from cute) · cuty (Terms derived from cute) · cutey (Terms derived from cute) · cute aggression (Terms derived from cute) · meet cute (Terms derived from cute) · cute as a speckled pup (Terms derived from cute) · cutie (Terms derived from cute) · cute as a bug's ear (Terms derived from cute) · overcute (Terms derived from cute) · cute meet (Terms derived from cute) · cute as a button (Terms derived from cute) · cute girls doing cute things (Terms derived from cute) · cute-'em-up (Terms derived from cute) · cuten (Terms derived from cute)

Descendants

cute · كْيُوت · kjoet · cute · キュート · քյութ · كِيُوت

Synonyms

cuddly animals · pretty (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · shrewd · clever · having features mainly attributed to infants and small

Translations (177)

nl lief (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ru ми́лый (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · fa ناز (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · mi pīwari (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · la bellula (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ase H@Chin-PalmBackFingerUp Flatten (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ru хоро́шенький (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · vi đáng yêu (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · eo dolĉa (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · gd stampa (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ms comel (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · bg мил (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · de lieb (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hu vonzó (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · pt giro (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ga glic (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · fi söpö (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · pl sprytny (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · de süß (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ka საყვარელი (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · eo aminda (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · eo beleta (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ja キュートな (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · sv fin (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · bo སྙིང་རྗེ་པོ (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ko 귀여운 (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · sv slug (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · af oulik (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hu bájos (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · fi suloinen (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ga álainn (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · uk хороше́нький (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ru симпати́чный (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · cs roztomilý (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ga galánta (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · es monono (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · fi söpö (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ia sympathic (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · gd bòidheach (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ta அன்பான (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · sv söt (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · uk симпати́чний (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hy սիրունատես (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hu agyafúrt (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · nl koddig (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · cy ciwt (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · yi זיס (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · pt fofo (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hu elbűvölő (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · id imut (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ang swēte (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hi प्यारा (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ang swēte (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · uk кмітли́вий (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · is snotur (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · cmn 可愛 /可爱 (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · eo aminda (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · sv klipsk (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · es chulo (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · fr joli (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · el χαριτωμένο (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · mi orotika (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · pl urzekający (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · fi suloinen (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · es pituso (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · km គួរឱ្យស្រឡាញ់ (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · nl geestig (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ia gratiose (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · uk гарню́ній (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · es gracioso (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · eo beleta (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · pl słodki (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ca maco (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ko 귀엽다 (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hu cuki (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · lo ເຈາະເບາະ (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · eo dolĉa (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ia sympathic (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · yi חנעוודיק (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · la bellulum (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · es monono (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · cy pert (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · sv gullig (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ro drăgălaș (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ur معصوم (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · da sød (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · acw حِلو (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · it carino (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · sv söt (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · mk симпатична (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ga gleoite (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · tr şirin (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · sl srčkan (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · arz عسول (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · hu édes (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · haw uʻi (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · hu aranyos (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · sh сладак (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · fa ملوس (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · nl zoetjes (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · vi đáng yêu (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · pl uroczy (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · mns-nor я̄тил (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · da nuttet (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · de goldig (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · uk прива́бливий (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · vi dễ thương (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ja メロい (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · fo søtur (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · uk розу́мний (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · hu cseles (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · yi באַחנט (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ja 可愛い (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · gd bòidheach (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · it carino (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · uk гарне́нький (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · pam matimyas (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · haw nani (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hy պուպուշ (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · sh sladak (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · de niedlich (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · uk га́рний (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · pam matimyas (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · he חמוד (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hy սիրուն (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ca bufó (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · is sætur (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ro drăguț (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ajp أمورة (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · it grazioso (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · vi dễ thương (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · yi באַטעמט (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hu furfangos (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · nl knap (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · hu helyes (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · pl cwany (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · ar فَاتِن (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hu csinos (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · la bellulum (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · la bellulus (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ar جَذَّاب (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ia gratiose (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · es mono (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · pt bonitinho (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · nl leuk (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · uk ми́лий (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · el χαριτωμένη (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · io miniona (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ka სასიამოვნო (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hu csini (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · yi זיס (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ru симпати́чный (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · he חמודה (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · eo ĉarma (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · ru привлека́тельный (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · hy դուրեկան (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · fi lutunen (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · gd stampa (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · bg привлекателен (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · id imut (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · th น่ารัก (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · scn biddicchiu (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · hu ravasz (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · el χαριτωμένος (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · io beleta (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · fr mignon (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · pam katimyas na (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · sv listig (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · hu minden hájjal megkent (dated: mentally keen or discerning; clever, shrewd) · nl olijk (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · nl schattig (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · nl guitig (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · fr mignon (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · eo ĉarma (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ajp أمور (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way) · ar قَشِيب (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals) · no søt (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals)