/ ˌkjʊəriˈɒsəti; NAmE ˌkjʊriˈɑːs-/ noun ( pl. -ies )
1.
[ U , sing. ] curiosity (about sth) | curiosity (to do sth) a strong desire to know about sth :
Children show curiosity about everything.
a certain curiosity to see what would happen next
The letter wasn't addressed to me but I opened it out of curiosity .
His answer did not satisfy my curiosity at all.
Sophie's curiosity was aroused by the mysterious phone call.
intellectual curiosity
'Why do you ask?' 'Oh, just idle curiosity ' (= no particular reason) .
2.
[ C ] an unusual and interesting thing :
The museum is full of historical curiosities.
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IDIOMS
- curiosity killed the cat
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Old French curiousete , from Latin curiositas , from curiosus careful, from cura care.