Possessing physical features, behaviors, personality traits or other properties that are mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals; e.g. fair, dainty, round, and soft physical features, disproportionately large eyes and head, playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity or shyness, innocence, affectionate behavior.
"The puppy's big, dark eyes and wobbly legs made it impossible not to feel an instant crush of adoration for the tiny animal."
In plain English: Cute means something that looks or acts in a way that makes you want to smile or feel affectionate.
"The puppy had such cute little paws that everyone stopped to pet it."
Usage: Use "cute" to describe something that is charmingly attractive in an innocent, endearing, or adorable way, often evoking a protective feeling due to its smallness or simplicity. Avoid using it for things that are merely pretty or stylish, as the word specifically implies a quality of wholesomeness and vulnerability.
Cute originally meant "keenly perceptive or discerning" in English during the early 1700s. Around 1834, American students began using it as slang for something pretty, and its meaning eventually shifted to describe the appealing qualities often found in young people.