cosmetic

¹cos·met·ic

adjective \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

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

²cosmetic

noun

Definition of COSMETIC

: something that is cosmetic: as

a : a cosmetic preparation for external use

b plural : superficial features <a poem without rhetorical cosmetics — Guy Davenport>

Examples of COSMETIC

1. Use a cosmetic to hide the scar.

First Known Use of COSMETIC

1650

Rhymes with COSMETIC

aesthetic, ascetic, emetic, magnetic, splenetic, synthetic, Venetic