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cosmetic

cos·me·tic

UK/kɒzˈmɛtɪk/ US/kɑzˈmɛt.ɪk/ uncommon
noun (1) adjective (2)

noun

1.

adjective

1.

serving an esthetic rather than a useful purpose

  • “cosmetic fenders on cars”
  • “the buildings were utilitarian rather than decorative”
Synonyms
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2.

serving an aesthetic purpose in beautifying the body

  • “cosmetic surgery”
  • “enhansive makeup”
Synonyms
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Origin

From French cosmétique, from Ancient Greek κοσμητική (kosmētikḗ, “the art of dress and ornament”), κοσμητικός (kosmētikós), from κοσμητής (kosmētḗs, “orderer, director, decorator”), from κοσμέω (kosméō, “to order, to arrange, to rule, to adorn, to equip, to dress, to embellish”), from κόσμος (kósmos, “order”). By surface analysis, cosmos + -etic.

Phrases

  • cosmetic dentistry
  • cosmetic second
  • cosmetic surgeon
  • cosmetic surgery

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WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.