Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

exotic

Pronunciation: /ɪgˈzɒtɪk, ɛg-/
Translate exotic | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish
Definition of exotic

adjective

  • originating in or characteristic of a distant foreign country:exotic birds they loved to visit exotic places
  • attractive or striking because colourful or out of the ordinary:youths with exotic haircuts (as noun the exotic)there was a touch of the exotic in her appearance
  • (especially of metals or fuels) of a kind not ordinarily encountered; specially produced: exotic chemicals such as oil hydrocarbons

noun

  • an exotic plant or animal:he planted exotics in the sheltered garden

Derivatives

exotically

adverb

exoticism

Pronunciation: /-tɪsɪz(ə)m/
noun

Origin:

late 16th century: via Latin from Greek exōtikos 'foreign', from exō 'outside'

exotic in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of exotic in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite
Oxford Dictionaries Pro

For Oxford's best resources for writers, plus thesaurus, audio, and 1.9m examples.

GET PRO ►

Shop for an Oxford dictionary
Find the perfect Oxford dictionary for you in our online shop.
SHOP NOW ►

Word of the day

cur

/ kəː /
noun
an aggressive or unkempt dog …