curiositycu‧ri‧os‧i‧ty /ˌkjʊəriˈɒsəti $ ˌkjʊriˈɑːs-/ ●●○ noun (plural curiosities) 
I opened the packet just to satisfy my curiosity. The news aroused a lot of curiosity among local people. She decided to follow him out of curiosity. Margaret looked at him with curiosity.curiosity about Children have a natural curiosity about the world around them. a man of immense intellectual curiosity It was idle curiosity that made me ask.2[countable] someone or something that is interesting because they are unusual or strange: a house full of old maps and other curiosities In the past, men who wanted to work with children were regarded as something of a curiosity. It’s not worth much, but I kept it for its curiosity value.3curiosity killed the cat used to tell someone not to ask too many questions about somethingCOLLOCATIONSverbshave a lot of curiosity· Bright children often have a lot of curiosity.satisfy somebody's curiosity (=find out something that you want to know)· I decided to call him in order to satisfy my curiosity.arouse somebody's curiosity (=make someone want to know about something)· New people in the village always aroused our curiosity.curiosity gets the better of somebody/overcomes somebody (=makes you do something that you are trying not to do)· Curiosity got the better of me and I opened her diary.pique somebody's curiosity (=make someone want to know about something)· Something she said had piqued his curiosity.adjectivesnatural curiosity· The children are encouraged to follow their natural curiosity, and learn about what interests them.intellectual curiosity· Highly intelligent people are full of intellectual curiosity.scientific curiosity (=about scientific things)· Their scientific curiosity led to the development of the vaccine.idle curiosity (=wanting to know something for no particular reason)· Out of idle curiosity, I looked out of the window.open curiosity (=that you do not try to hide)· The children were staring at her with open curiosity.great/intense curiosity· His disappearance had obviously aroused great curiosity.insatiable curiosity (=used when someone is always curious)· He had an insatiable curiosity about why people do the things they do.mild curiosity (=not great)· I watched what was happening with mild curiosity.morbid curiosity (=a feeling of wanting to know about death or other bad things that happen)· the morbid curiosity of the onlookers at the trialphrasesbe burning with curiosity (=want to know about something very much)· She was burning with curiosity about him, but was too polite to ask.be an object/a subject of curiosity (=be something or someone that makes people curious)· Anyone new was always the object of our curiosity.curiosity + NOUNcuriosity value (=the quality or advantage of being something that people want to know about)· When the shop was new it had curiosity value.
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Events like these excite a child's natural curiosity.
- Olly was bursting with curiosity about the new house.
- The emperor's visit was treated as a curiosity rather than a political event.
- To satisfy vistors' curiosity, park officials have prepared maps on which the historical sites are clearly marked.
- Adam's next problem was how to obtain a translation of the document and Goering's letter without arousing unnecessary curiosity.
- His curiosity and detailed pursuits with paint and drawing materials continued throughout his life as a vital source of exploration and communication.
- It is a dialogue that begins with curiosity and is fueled by knowledge, leading to understanding.
- Some came to seek the new power, some to chuckle, others to satisfy their curiosity.
- The kids had never come right out and admitted their curiosity.
- These investigations of the sun's luminosity are not just intellectual curiosity.
- Where were the important elements: inventiveness, initiative, adaptability, intellectual curiosity, sensitivity, confidence, determination?
Longman Language Activatorsomeone who likes to find out about things
wanting to find out about someone or something because you are very interested in them: · "Why do you want to know about Catherine?" "Oh no reason. I'm just curious."· Being naturally curious animals, cats often find their way into dangerous places.curious about: · Even young children often become curious about drugs.curious to learn/know/see etc: · It was a weird situation, and I was curious to learn more.
the desire to find out about things: · Events like these excite a child's natural curiosity.curiosity about: · Olly was bursting with curiosity about the new house.satisfy somebody's curiosity (=tell them about something so that they are no longer curious): · To satisfy vistors' curiosity, park officials have prepared maps on which the historical sites are clearly marked.
always wanting to find out about what people are doing, how things work, what is happening etc: · Jenny was a very inquisitive child, always asking "why?"· The crowded room was filled with lights, cameras, and inquisitive reporters.· The kids were wide-eyed and inquisitive.
always wanting to find out things that do not concern you, especially other people's private affairs: · A nosy neighbor actually videotaped them in their own backyard.· At first, the children are afraid to ask questions they think might be impolite or nosy.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRYverbs It was only from idle curiosity that she went into the barn. a morbid fascination with instruments of torture
· Bright children often have a lot of curiosity.
(=find out something that you want to know)· I decided to call him in order to satisfy my curiosity.
(=make someone want to know about something)· New people in the village always aroused our curiosity.
(=makes you do something that you are trying not to do)· Curiosity got the better of me and I opened her diary.
(=make someone want to know about something)· Something she said had piqued his curiosity.
adjectives· The children are encouraged to follow their natural curiosity, and learn about what interests them.
· Highly intelligent people are full of intellectual curiosity.
(=about scientific things)· Their scientific curiosity led to the development of the vaccine.
(=wanting to know something for no particular reason)· Out of idle curiosity, I looked out of the window.
(=that you do not try to hide)· The children were staring at her with open curiosity.
· His disappearance had obviously aroused great curiosity.
(=used when someone is always curious)· He had an insatiable curiosity about why people do the things they do.
(=not great)· I watched what was happening with mild curiosity.
(=a feeling of wanting to know about death or other bad things that happen)· the morbid curiosity of the onlookers at the trial
phrases (=want to know about something very much)· She was burning with curiosity about him, but was too polite to ask.
(=be something or someone that makes people curious)· Anyone new was always the object of our curiosity.
curiosity + NOUN (=the quality or advantage of being something that people want to know about)· When the shop was new it had curiosity value.
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES· Rumours of hidden treasure excited our curiosity.
It was only from idle curiosity that she went into the barn. a morbid fascination with instruments of torture (=let someone know something they want to know)· I had to read the letter, just to satisfy my curiosity.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE· Jess shivered, looking down at the upturned faces that stared at her with idle curiosity.· It was only from idle curiosity that she went into Nannie's room.· It's not just idle curiosity.· And he asked me a lot of very pertinent questions which seemed to me more than idle curiosity.· As we leave, I glance around to see if anyone shows more than idle curiosity.· Perhaps it was nothing more than idle curiosity.· It should be remembered that it is not idle curiosity that prompts them.
· Finally, she lists the intellectual pursuit model, which is self-directed and self-motivated by intellectual curiosity.· It is rich in intellectual curiosity and academic and cultural diversity.· Where were the important elements: inventiveness, initiative, adaptability, intellectual curiosity, sensitivity, confidence, determination?· This was a matter of both intellectual curiosity and national security.· A shy, self-effacing man, Williams was self-taught, and showed an independent and determined intellectual curiosity.· There is far more high-mindedness, racial tolerance and intellectual curiosity than you might expect.· These investigations of the sun's luminosity are not just intellectual curiosity.· Chimp behavior holds insights into teaching humans self-esteem, intellectual curiosity and the ability to get along with others, she says.
· Ken particularly used to enjoy the murder trials - not for any morbid curiosity, but for the drama unfolding.· Cairns and co focus on the oddities of human nature with a certain morbid curiosity.
· He also collected natural history curiosities and plants before the appointment ended with the Duke's death.· Then, too, repeated visits to cultural monuments doubtless palled in time, natural curiosity withered by sheer surfeit.· Their natural curiosity and concretization of ideas will often give them a certainty of their own that makes much more sense.· There was nothing doubtful about Mrs Whosis downstairs, except her natural curiosity.· Although a proud and intransigent woman, she had a natural curiosity about the world.
· It is useless for me to point out that scientific curiosity by itself is as irresponsible as the curiosity of a child.
NOUN· They have a certain curiosity value, I suppose, but no merit otherwise.
VERB· Adam's next problem was how to obtain a translation of the document and Goering's letter without arousing unnecessary curiosity.· As geology has become the focus of more attention, it has aroused the curiosity of young people about nature in general.· The theme today aroused my curiosity: a Celebration of Ulrike Meinhof.· For him the sight is also shocking, but arouses a prurient curiosity.· The genus was sufficiently unlike other bacteria to arouse curiosity.· David Thomson's vivid account of these goings-on, in Woodbrook, had aroused my curiosity.
· Then he told me something that piqued my curiosity.
· If this is true, it seems an expensive way of satisfying one's curiosity.· Some came to seek the new power, some to chuckle, others to satisfy their curiosity.· Foucard had once gone to that door, thrown it wide, given the room an all-embracing glance, satisfied his curiosity.· You still haven't satisfied my curiosity.· We too need to read the Bible in our hearts, rather than simply to discover facts or satisfy our curiosity.· If you want to satisfy your curiosity about Bob's girlfriend, you ring him yourself.· At least he had satisfied his curiosity.· This seemed to satisfy the boy's curiosity.
· The other two showed no curiosity in the matter.· As we leave, I glance around to see if anyone shows more than idle curiosity.· For a time he showed a certain curiosity about Liszt and something of the same kind about Wagner.· Children show curiosity about everything and their own bodies, or those of others, fall naturally within their area of exploration.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRYPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► be eaten up with/by jealousy/anger/curiosity etc► spark somebody’s interest/hope/curiosity etc
1[singular, uncountable] the desire to know about something: - The townspeople had learned the hard way that curiosity killed the cat - you stayed indoors if there was trouble.
- The tour of the hospital piqued her interest in studying medicine.
- But organization is not the arena that piques my interest most.
- But something innkeeper Darlene Elders said over breakfast piqued their interest.
- But three recent cases are piquing our interest, and analysts say they may signal new and more venal form of corruption.
- Then he told me something that piqued my curiosity.
- What we want to do first, though, is to pique your interest by sharing some of the accomplishments.
- And I think it actually has more shock value than the first one.
- Anything that is done for shock value has no future because it's done for the moment.
- Apart from the novelty value of this, there is the advantage of speed of execution.
- The company opened a string of themed stores that have lost their novelty value.
- They have a certain curiosity value, I suppose, but no merit otherwise.
- This improvement in health could possibly be attributed to the novelty value of having a new puppy or kitten in the house.
- This version by Northern Stage rather downplays the shock value of that final betrayal, which is certainly a flaw.
I opened the packet just to satisfy my curiosity. The news aroused a lot of curiosity among local people. She decided to follow him out of curiosity. Margaret looked at him with curiosity.curiosity about Children have a natural curiosity about the world around them. a man of immense intellectual curiosity It was idle curiosity that made me ask.2[countable] someone or something that is interesting because they are unusual or strange: a house full of old maps and other curiosities In the past, men who wanted to work with children were regarded as something of a curiosity. It’s not worth much, but I kept it for its curiosity value.3curiosity killed the cat used to tell someone not to ask too many questions about somethingCOLLOCATIONSverbshave a lot of curiosity· Bright children often have a lot of curiosity.satisfy somebody's curiosity (=find out something that you want to know)· I decided to call him in order to satisfy my curiosity.arouse somebody's curiosity (=make someone want to know about something)· New people in the village always aroused our curiosity.curiosity gets the better of somebody/overcomes somebody (=makes you do something that you are trying not to do)· Curiosity got the better of me and I opened her diary.pique somebody's curiosity (=make someone want to know about something)· Something she said had piqued his curiosity.adjectivesnatural curiosity· The children are encouraged to follow their natural curiosity, and learn about what interests them.intellectual curiosity· Highly intelligent people are full of intellectual curiosity.scientific curiosity (=about scientific things)· Their scientific curiosity led to the development of the vaccine.idle curiosity (=wanting to know something for no particular reason)· Out of idle curiosity, I looked out of the window.open curiosity (=that you do not try to hide)· The children were staring at her with open curiosity.great/intense curiosity· His disappearance had obviously aroused great curiosity.insatiable curiosity (=used when someone is always curious)· He had an insatiable curiosity about why people do the things they do.mild curiosity (=not great)· I watched what was happening with mild curiosity.morbid curiosity (=a feeling of wanting to know about death or other bad things that happen)· the morbid curiosity of the onlookers at the trialphrasesbe burning with curiosity (=want to know about something very much)· She was burning with curiosity about him, but was too polite to ask.be an object/a subject of curiosity (=be something or someone that makes people curious)· Anyone new was always the object of our curiosity.curiosity + NOUNcuriosity value (=the quality or advantage of being something that people want to know about)· When the shop was new it had curiosity value.- hench
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