curio

noun

cu·​rio ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌō How to pronounce curio (audio)
ˈkyər-
plural curios
: something (such as a decorative object) considered novel, rare, or bizarre : curiosity
also : an unusual or bizarre person

Examples of curio in a Sentence

She loves to browse the shops in small towns, looking for curios. be careful of the fragile curios on the end tables
Recent Examples on the Web That’s the question asked, in form and content, by Harmony, a light curio of a musical that comes with a riptide of political anxiety. Vulture, 13 Nov. 2023 Open shelving built into the wall serves as both a curio case and room divider. Kathryn O'Shea-Evans, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Nov. 2023 Other curios include pages from French periodicals of the time that portrayed ideal looks inspired by men's riding dress and military uniforms. Simon Perry, Peoplemag, 21 Apr. 2023 This look relies heavily on antique and vintage pieces—think dressers, old milking stools, ceramic jugs, dinnerware, and old curio cabinets. Cori Sears, Better Homes & Gardens, 26 Sep. 2023 And Witold, who leads the peripatetic life of a travelling artist, must serve as a local trinket, a curio, for the global flow of commerce. Jennifer Wilson, The New Yorker, 25 Sep. 2023 Serene Spaces Living Paulownia Wood Round Bowl Buy on Amazon $50 $40 Perfect for adding texture and warmth to a space, Daniel also recommends the Serene Spaces Living Paulownia Wood Round Bowl that can be placed on top of a stack of books, a shelf, or in a curio cabinet. Stephanie Osmanski, Southern Living, 30 July 2023 But miniatures traverse broad boundaries, from curios and knick-knacks to rigorous conceptual explorations of material and scale. BostonGlobe.com, 26 July 2023 However, Bacon’s performance as well as Finn’s detailed craft manage to hold tension, and the audience’s attention, for the nearly-two-hour runtime of this horror curio, which is as opaque and somewhat silly as the smiles that drive it. Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 29 Sep. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'curio.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

short for curiosity

First Known Use

1849, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of curio was in 1849

Dictionary Entries Near curio

Cite this Entry

“Curio.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/curio. Accessed 8 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

curio

noun
cu·​rio ˈkyu̇r-ē-ˌō How to pronounce curio (audio)
plural curios
: an object or article valued because it is strange or rare

More from Merriam-Webster on curio

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!