# curiosity

/ˌkjʊɹiˈɑsəti/ (US) · /kjˌʊɹɪˈɒsɪti/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/curiosity
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. desire to know

noun · CEFR B1

the feeling of wanting to know or learn about something.

For teachers: the state or quality of being inquisitive; a strong desire to investigate and learn.

- The children were full of curiosity about the locked room at the end of the hall.
- Her intellectual curiosity led her to explore fields of study far beyond the requirements of her degree.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'about' or followed by an infinitive.

### 2. an unusual object

noun · CEFR B2

an unusual or rare object that people find interesting.

For teachers: a rare, unusual, or strange object that attracts interest or attention.

- The old shop was filled with curiosities like wooden toys and ancient coins.
- The museum's collection includes several Victorian curiosities, such as a clock that runs entirely on water power.

Usage: In this sense, the noun is countable.

### 3. fine workmanship

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Literary

very careful and delicate work or construction.

For teachers: the quality of being carefully or delicately constructed; fine or intricate workmanship.

- The gold box was a curiosity of fine carving and detail.
- The ivory cabinet was a curiosity of such exquisite detail that it was considered the finest piece in the royal collection.

Usage: Rarely encountered in modern speech; found primarily in historical texts or formal descriptions of art.

## Examples

- Her curiosity led her to open the old wooden box.
- The children's natural curiosity about the forest animals made the science field trip a huge success.
- Intellectual curiosity is often cited as the primary driver of scientific progress, as it compels researchers to investigate phenomena that others might simply take for granted.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.