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# curious

«curious» in Mova's school dictionary: **Wanting to know or learn about something; eager to find out** — its meaning for a pupil, its sense in the lessons and examples, with 5 sentences of Mova's corpora that use it.

### part of speech

adjective (curious, more curious, most curious); noun form: curiosity

### meaning for a pupil

1) Wanting to know or learn about something; eager to find out. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#m1)

2) Strange, unusual or interesting in a surprising way (a curious noise). [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#m2)

### sense in the lessons

At school being curious is praised: curious pupils ask questions, explore and experiment — it is how science starts. In stories a curious character often finds an adventure or gets into trouble (Alice was curious and followed the rabbit). In safety: being curious is good, but don't touch unknown animals, plants, pills or objects — ask an adult. Phrases: curious about, curious to know, curiouser and curiouser (from Alice in Wonderland), curiosity killed the cat (a saying that warns against being too nosy).

### examples

- Kittens are very curious and explore every box. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#x1)
- I'm curious about how volcanoes work. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#x2)
- She was curious to know what was inside the parcel. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#x3)
- A curious smell came from the kitchen. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#x4)
- Curious scientists ask «Why?» and «What if?» [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#x5)
- It's good to be curious, but don't touch a needle you find on the ground. [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#x6)
- What a curious little shell — it's shaped like a spiral! [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#x7)
- I am curious to hear the end." [tree →](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/#x8)

### note

Two meanings: «curious» about something = wanting to know; «a curious thing» = strange. Noun: curiosity. Being curious is different from being «nosy», which means too interested in other people's private business.

### In the corpora

- [New climbing frames, ropes, branches and hiding places are enrichment too, because new paths keep animals active and curious.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/112-training-and-enrichment/10/)
- [The kea is a curious mountain parrot from New Zealand that solves problems, steals food and sometimes pulls rubber off cars.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/biology/206-parrots-talkers-nutcrackers-and-long-lives/14/)
- [In the middle of the trial Alice feels a curious sensation: she is growing again.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/22-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-2/0/)
- [Alice is curious who it will be, since they have hardly any evidence yet.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/books/22-alice-who-stole-the-tarts-2/13/)
- [If something makes you curious or worried, ask the person openly.](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/school/everyday/356-peeking-at-presents-diaries-and-letters/14/)

### Trees and pragmatics

[Every meaning and example of «curious» parsed by Mova](https://md.mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/C/curious/), each sentence with its dependency tree and frames.