[cu.ri.ous] adj [ME, fr. MF curios, fr. L curiosus careful, inquisitive, fr. cura cure] (14c) 1 a archaic: made carefully b obs: abstruse c archaic: precisely accurate
2. a: marked by desire to investigate and learn b: marked by inquisitive interest in others' concerns: nosy
3: exciting attention as strange, novel, or unexpected: odd -- cu.ri.ous.ness n syn 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".