# curiosity

Pronunciation: say "kyoor-ee-OS-uh-tee" US /ˌkjʊəɹiˈɑsəti/, UK /ˌkjʊəɹiˈɒsəti/

## Noun

1. An eagerness to learn about things by asking questions, investigating, and exploring.
   - Simple: A strong wish to learn or know more about things by asking and exploring.
   - _Scientific progress is often driven by simple curiosity about how things work._
   - _The children's curiosity about the strange noise led them down to the basement._
2. An object that attracts interest because it is unusual or one of a kind.
   - Simple: An unusual or remarkable object that draws people's interest.
   - _The museum displayed a curiosity from the deep sea that no one could quite name._
   - _Among the antiques was a mechanical bird, a curiosity that drew a small crowd._

## Noun

3. Careful, delicate construction; fine workmanship and close attention to detail in building or making something. *(obsolete)*
   - Simple: Careful, skillful work that shows great attention to small details.

## Origin

It comes from Middle English "curiosite," borrowed via Anglo-Norman "curiouseté" from Latin "cūriōsitās." In effect it is "curious" plus "-ity," and it replaced the native Old English word "firwitt."

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/curiosity (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).