Meanings
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1
noun
a preparation applied to the body, especially the face or hair, to clean it or improve its appearance
The shop sells each cosmetic in refillable packaging.
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2
adj
relating to treatments or products intended to improve a person's appearance
The clinic offers both reconstructive and cosmetic surgery.
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3
adj
affecting only appearance rather than function, substance, or underlying structure
The renovation made cosmetic changes but left the faulty wiring untouched.
Thesaurus
Etymology
Via French cosmetique and Greek kosmetikos ("skilled in arranging or adorning"), from kosmein ("to order, arrange, adorn") and ultimately kosmos ("order"). The figurative sense developed from improving outward appearance without changing what lies beneath.