English Explanatory Dictionary

cosmetic

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Imparting or improving beauty, particularly the beauty of the complexion.
  2. External or superficial; pertaining only to the surface or appearance of something.
noun
  1. Any substances applied to enhance the external color or texture of the skin, e.g. lipstick, eyeshadow, eyeliner.
  2. A feature existing only on the surface.
  3. An intangible influence that improves the overall perception of some thing or situation.

Pronunciation

/kɒzˈmɛtɪk/ /kɑzˈmɛt.ɪk/ [kɑzˈmɛɾ.ɪk] en-us-cosmetic.ogg /kɔzˈmet.ɪk/ [kɔzˈmeɾ.ɪk]

Word forms

cosmetic more cosmetic most cosmetic cosmetics

Etymology

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.

Synonyms

beauty product makeup make-up product[Appendix:Glossary slap war paint

Related words

cosmesis cosmetics cosmos

Derived words

anticosmetic biocosmetic cosmeceutical cosmetically cosmetic dentistry cosmeticise cosmeticism cosmeticize cosmeticky cosmeticology cosmetic second cosmetic surgeon cosmetic surgery dermocosmetic nanocosmetic noncosmetic
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