cosmetic

¹cos·met·ic

adj \käz-ˈme-tik\

Definition of COSMETIC

1

: of, relating to, or making for beauty especially of the complexion : beautifying <cosmetic salves>

2

: done or made for the sake of appearance: as a : correcting defects especially of the face <cosmetic surgery> b : decorative, ornamental c : not substantive : superficial <cosmetic changes>

3

: visually appealing

— cos·met·i·cal·ly \-ti-k(ə-)lē\ adverb

Examples of COSMETIC

1. Almond oil is sometimes used in cosmetic products.
2. medical procedures that are done for cosmetic purposes
3. The changes were purely cosmetic.

Origin of COSMETIC

Greek kosmētikos skilled in adornment, from kosmein to arrange, adorn, from kosmos order

First Known Use: 1638

Related to COSMETIC

Synonyms: adorning, beautifying, decorative, embellishing, ornamental

Antonyms: functional, utilitarian

Related Words: alluring, appealing, attractive, charming, delightful, glamorous (also glamourous), pleasing, prepossessing; beauteous, beautiful, bonny (also bonnie) [chiefly British], comely, fair, gorgeous, handsome, lovely, pretty, stunning; detailed, elaborate, fancy, ornate

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Rhymes with COSMETIC

aesthetic, ascetic, athletic, balletic, bathetic, cometic, eidetic, emetic, frenetic, gametic, genetic, hermetic, limnetic, magnetic, mimetic, noetic, Ossetic, paretic, pathetic, phenetic, phonetic, phyletic, poetic, prophetic, prosthetic, pyretic, splenetic, syncretic, syndetic, synthetic, tonetic, Venetic