Origin: Latin suffix -ous
Curious has 4 different meanings across 1 category:
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
"a curious hybrid accent"
"her speech has a funny twang"
"they have some funny ideas about war"
"had an odd name"
"the peculiar aromatic odor of cloves"
"something definitely queer about this town"
"what a rum fellow"
"singular behavior"
eager to investigate and learn or learn more (sometimes about others' concerns)
"a curious child is a teacher's delight"
"a trap door that made me curious"
"curious investigators"
"traffic was slowed by curious rubberneckers"
"curious about the neighbor's doings"
Tending to ask questions, or to want to explore or investigate; inquisitive; (with a negative connotation) nosy, prying.
"The chemist carefully labeled the vial as curious because it contained a solution of trivalent curium."
Containing or pertaining to trivalent curium.
In plain English: Curious means wanting to know more about something because you are interested and eager to learn.
"The curious child looked behind every door to see what was inside."
Usage: Use curious to describe someone who naturally asks many questions or wants to learn more about their surroundings. Avoid confusing this adjective with the noun curiosity when referring to an object of interest.
The word "curious" comes from the Latin cūriōsus, which entered Middle English via Old French. It retains its original sense of being attentive or inquisitive as it traveled through these languages into modern usage.