cu|ri|os|i|ty

cu|ri|os|i|ty «_KYUR ee OS uh tee», noun, plural -ties.

1. an eager desire to know: »

He satisfied his curiosity about animals by visiting the zoo every week.

2. the condition of being too eager to know; inquisitiveness: »

Curiosity got the better of her, and she opened her sister's mail. Curiosity killed the cat.

3. a strange, rare, or novel object; something arousing curiosity; novelty: »

One of his curiosities was a basket made from an armadillo shell. His unexpectedly erratic behavior is a curiosity.

SYNONYM(S): curio, rarity, wonder.

4. an odd, unusual, or interesting quality: »

The president's childish behavior is of some curiosity. He was intrigued with the curiosity of the place.

5. Obsolete. carefulness; accuracy; skill.