curiosity

[ kyoo r-ee-os-i-tee ]
/ ˌkyʊər iˈɒs ɪ ti /

noun, plural cu·ri·os·i·ties.

the desire to learn or know about anything; inquisitiveness.
a curious, rare, or novel thing.
a strange, curious, or interesting quality.
Archaic. carefulness; fastidiousness.

Origin of curiosity

1350–1400; Middle English curiosite (< Anglo-French) < Latin cūriōsitās. See curious, -ity

OTHER WORDS FROM curiosity

non·cu·ri·os·i·ty, noun o·ver·cu·ri·os·i·ty, noun

Example sentences from the Web for curiosity

British Dictionary definitions for curiosity

curiosity
/ (ˌkjʊərɪˈɒsɪtɪ) /

noun plural -ties

an eager desire to know; inquisitiveness
  1. the quality of being curious; strangeness
  2. (as modifier)the ring had curiosity value only
something strange or fascinating
a rare or strange object; curio
obsolete fastidiousness