different between cute vs interesting

English

Etymology

Aphetic form of acute, originally “keenly perceptive or discerning, shrewd” (1731). Meaning transferred to “pretty, fetching” by US students (slang) c.1834. Meaning drifted further to describe the pleasing attraction to features usually possessed by the young.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /kju?t/
• Rhymes: -u?t

Adjective

cute (comparative cuter, superlative cutest)

1. 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.

2. Generally, attractive or pleasing, especially in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way.

3. Sexually attractive or pleasing; gorgeous.
4. Affected or contrived to charm; mincingly clever; precious; cutesy.

5. Mentally keen or discerning (See also acute)

   Synonyms: clever, shrewd

   • ca. 1850. Anonymous, "Turpin Hero" (broadside ballad, probably originally dating to 18th century)

     Then Turpin being so very cute,

     He hid his money in his boot.

6. (especially mathematics) Evincing cleverness; surprising in its elegance or unconventionality (but of limited importance).

Usage notes

Though all the above usages are understood outside US & Canada, they are rarely used spontaneously except to characterise or parody American usage.

Synonyms

• (having features mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals): endearing
• (attractive or pleasing in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way): pretty

Derived terms

Descendants

• ? Dutch: kjoet

Translations

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from English cute.

Adjective

cute

1. (youthful) cute, adorable
   • 2010, Kirsten Sonne Harild, Pony & Co. 4 - Lises forvandling, Gyldendal A/S (?ISBN)

     „De er sådan lidt tegneserieagtige, ikke? Ligesom shetlændere. Cute.

   • 2010, Jesper Staunstrup, At være fremmed..., BoD – Books on Demand (?ISBN), page 187

     Dyret er altså bare ikke cute... Det er en stor rottelignende dræber, der er altædende.

2. (youthful) sweet, attractive (of a person, especially a prospective partner)
   • 2012, Hanne-Vibeke Holst, Hjertets renhed, Gyldendal A/S (?ISBN)

     Han er cute. Frederik var rimelig cute.

   • 2014, Ina Bruhn, Maja og Dancer: Hestene på Ponygården 3, Rosinante & Co (?ISBN)

     Han hedder Elvin. Er det ikke et totalt cute navn?

   • 2014, Dennis Jürgensen, Hår(d), Tellerup A/S (?ISBN)

     Hun var cute, det var hun faktisk, og jeg prøvede desperat ikke at tænke på min isse.

   • 2013, Anders Haahr Rasmussen, Modellen: #dayinthelife, Art People (?ISBN)

     Josephine Skriver har tidligere haft problemer med sit runde, cute ansigt og har det for så vidt stadigvæk.

Synonyms

• (adorable): nuttet, kær

Italian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin cutis.

Noun

cute f (plural cuti)

1. (anatomy) Cutis, skin (of a person)

   Synonym: pelle

Derived terms

• cutaneo

Latin

Noun

cute

1. ablative singular of cutis

Middle English

Noun

cute

1. Alternative form of cote (“coot”)

Romanian

Etymology

From Latin c?tem, accusative of c?s. The expected result would have been *coate in Romanian, but may have been influenced by cu?it and ascu?i.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?ku.te/
• Rhymes: -ute
• Hyphenation: cu?te

Noun

cute f (plural cute)

1. whetstone

Synonyms

• gresie

References

English

Etymology

From interest +? -ing.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??nt??st??/, /??nt??st??/
• (US) IPA^(key): /??nt???st??/, /??nt(?)??st??/, /??nt(?)??st??/, /??nt???st??/
• ,

Adjective

interesting (comparative more interesting, superlative most interesting)

1. (obsolete) Of concern; affecting, important.
   • 1791, James Boswell, Life of Johnson, Oxford 2008, p. 48:

     He indeed had good reason to be offended; for though Dr. Swinfen's motive was good, he inconsiderately betrayed a matter deeply interesting and of great delicacy, which had been entrusted to him in conference […] .

2. Arousing or holding the attention or interest of someone.
   • 2015-11-22, Stan Lee, "Marvel's Stan Lee: 'I'd never really thought of doing comics for a living.'", The Guardian:

     Comics were just another form of entertainment to me, but it got to be more and more interesting every day.

3. (euphemistic) Pregnant. [from 18th c.]
   • 1751, Tobias Smollett, The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, vol. III, ch. 88:

     I found myself in a fair way of being a mother; and that I might be near my own relations, in such an interesting situation, I and my dear companion departed from H—n, not without great reluctance […] .

   • 1839, Charles Dickens, Nicholas Nickleby:

     Mrs Lenville (who, as has been before hinted, was in an interesting state) rushed from the rear rank of ladies, and uttering a piercing scream threw herself upon the body.

   • 1928, WB Maxwell, We Forget Because We Must:

     I'm afraid I seem to make heavy weather of my interesting condition.

Synonyms

• absorbing

Antonyms

• uninteresting
• boring

Derived terms

• interesting condition
• interestingly
• interestingness

Translations

Verb

interesting

1. present participle of interest