cosmetics

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English

English Wikipedia has an article on:
Wikipedia
Assorted cosmetics and tools.

Etymology

From French cosmétique, from Ancient Greek κοσμητική (kosmētikḗ, the art of dress and ornament), from κοσμητικός (kosmētikós), an adjective of κοσμέω (kosméō, to order, to arrange, to rule, to adorn, to equip, to dress, to embellish).

Pronunciation

Noun

cosmetics pl (plural only)

  1. Preparations applied externally to change or enhance the beauty of skin, hair, nails, lips, and eyes.
  2. The way something looks; superficial appearance.
    • 2004, Lewis Sorley, Vietnam Chronicles: The Abrams Tapes, 1968-1972, page 194:
      In the great fishbowl that we're doing everything in it's kind of unfortunate, but the cosmetics of the thing are more important than what's accomplished — in a great many ways.

Noun

cosmetics (uncountable)

  1. The study of such products.

Derived terms

Translations