CURIOUS


Meaning of CURIOUS in English

transcription, транскрипция: [ ˈkyu̇r-ē-əs ]

adjective

Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French curios, from Latin curiosus careful, inquisitive, from cura cure

Date: 14th century

1.

a. archaic : made carefully

b. obsolete : 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

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

Merriam-Webster's Collegiate English vocabulary.      Энциклопедический словарь английского языка Merriam Webster.