curiosity

curiosity
noun /ˌkjʊərɪˈɒsɪti/
a) Inquisitiveness; the tendency to ask learn about things by asking questions, investigating, or exploring.

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 [...].

b) A unique or extraordinary object which arouses interest.

"Certainly there is nothing wrong with Alvins 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."

See Also: curious

Wikipedia foundation.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР
Synonyms:

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Curiosity — Cu ri*os i*ty (k[=u] r[i^]*[o^]s [i^]*t[y^]), n.; pl. {Curiosities} ( t[i^]z). [OE. curiouste, curiosite, OF. curioset[ e], curiosit[ e], F. curiosit[ e], fr. L. curiositas, fr. curiosus. See {Curious}, and cf. {Curio}.] 1. The state or quality… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Curiosity — (Mars Science Laboratory) Заказчик NASA Производитель …   Википедия

  • curiosity — ► NOUN (pl. curiosities) 1) a strong desire to know or learn something. 2) a unusual or interesting object or fact. ● curiosity killed the cat Cf. ↑curiosity killed the cat …   English terms dictionary

  • curiosity — (n.) late 14c., careful attention to detail, also desire to know or learn (originally usually in a bad sense), from O.Fr. curiosete curiosity, avidity, choosiness (Mod.Fr. curiosité), from L. curiositatem (nom. curiositas) desire of knowledge,… …   Etymology dictionary

  • curiosity — [n1] intense desire to know, understand concern, eagerness, inquiring mind, inquiringness, inquisitiveness, interest, interestingness, intrusiveness, investigation, meddlesomeness, meddling, mental acquisitiveness, nosiness, officiousness, prying …   New thesaurus

  • curiosity — index interest (concern), phenomenon (unusual occurrence) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • curiosity — [kyoor΄ē äs′ə tē] n. pl. curiosities [ME curiousite < OFr curiosité < L curiositas < curiosus: see CURIOUS] 1. a desire to learn or know 2. a desire to learn about things that do not properly concern one; inquisitiveness 3. anything… …   English World dictionary

  • Curiosity — For other uses, see Curiosity (disambiguation). Curious redirects here. For other uses, see Curious (disambiguation). Curious children gather around photographer Toni Frissell, looking at her camera Curiosity (from Latin curiosus careful,… …   Wikipedia

  • curiosity — cu|ri|os|i|ty [ˌkjuəriˈɔsıti US ˌkjuriˈa:s ] n plural curiosities 1.) [singular, U] the desire to know about something ▪ I opened the packet just to satisfy my curiosity. ▪ The news aroused a lot of curiosity among local people. ▪ She decided to… …   Dictionary of contemporary English

  • curiosity — noun ADJECTIVE ▪ great, intense ▪ insatiable ▪ She has an insatiable curiosity about life. ▪ mild ▪ idle …   Collocations dictionary

  • curiosity */ — UK [ˌkjʊərɪˈɒsətɪ] / US [ˌkjʊrɪˈɑsətɪ] noun Word forms curiosity : singular curiosity plural curiosities 1) [singular/uncountable] a strong feeling of wanting to find out about something curiosity about: All children have a certain curiosity… …   English dictionary

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”