Main Entry:: cu·ri·ous
Pronunciation:: \ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs\
Function:: adjective
Etymology:: Middle English, from Anglo-French curios, from Latin curiosus careful, inquisitive, from cura cure
Date:: 14th century

1 aarchaic : made carefully bobsolete : abstruse carchaic : precisely accurate2 a: marked by desire to investigate and learn b: marked by inquisitive interest in others' concerns : nosy3: exciting attention as strange, novel, or unexpected : odd <a curious coincidence>

— cu·ri·ous·ness noun

synonyms curious, inquisitive, prying mean interested in what is not one's personal or proper concern. curious, a neutral term, basically connotes an active desire to learn or to know <children are curious about everything>. inquisitive suggests impertinent and habitual curiosity and persistent quizzing <dreaded the visits of their inquisitive relatives>. prying implies busy meddling and officiousness <prying neighbors who refuse to mind their own business>.

Learn more about "curious" and related topics at Britannica.com

See a map of "curious" in the Visual Thesaurus

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