curio
7
8.4
- noun
- /ˈkjʊr.i.oʊ/
- The museum displayed a rare curio that fascinated all the visitors.
- curio shop
- curio market
- sell curios
Examples
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Today, however, that little statue is a sacred object enshrined in my curio, where I display my especially treasured heirlooms.
Fiction book (2002) -
Sam tags along as the old man rearranges the display of Texas curios laid out in front of his trailer.
Fiction book (1996) -
A little curio we picked up somewhere.
-
Tell me, you turned up any interesting curios recently?
-
However, our first stop that day was at Engel's Curio Shop.
-
She runs a curio shop on Hangkau Road.
-
At the Summit House, there is an information desk, concession counter, restrooms, and a curio shop.
Academic text (1994) -
There are cafes, small curio and souvenir shops, and new and renovated houses.
Academic text (1999) -
A retired flight attendant, Sng runs a curio store in Singapore's Kampong Glam district.
Blog text (15) -
During her travels, she collected a unique curio from each country she visited.
Synonyms
34
4.1
A thing people collect because it is interesting or valuable, like cards
31
6.2
Something that is not common and happens only sometimes
30
5.3
A strange person or object that people notice
22
5.0
An unusual object that people keep because it is rare or interesting
12
5.4
An object that people want to keep because it is rare and valuable
4
4.2
An object that people keep and show, like stamps or toys
1
9.5
A small unusual thing kept because it is interesting
How Unusual
Surface Forms
Etymology
Curio comes from the same idea as curious and curiosity, from an old word meaning 'care' or 'interest'. A helpful way to remember it is that a curio is a small 'curiosity', a rare or odd object that makes you look and ask questions, which is why collectors like them.