noun
curiosity
kyoor-ee-AH-suh-tee/ˌkjʊriˈɑːsəti/
An urge to learn about something unfamiliar.
The girl's curiosity draws her closer to the beetle beneath her magnifying glass.
Etymology
The pieces name the quality of being careful or eagerly inquiring. English often treated this desire to know as meddlesome prying before it acquired a neutral or approving sense.
In context
Stir your audience's curiosity. Use intriguing, provocative questions to identify why something doesn't make sense and needs explaining.
More examples
- Out of curiosity, I look up the meaning of my name.
- The guide answers our questions and satisfies our curiosity.
- A strange birdcall sparks his curiosity about local wildlife.
Forms
curious adjective — Eager to learn or know more.