Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Strikingly strange or unusual: "Exotic" describes something that is perceived as fascinatingly different, foreign, or unfamiliar, often in an attractive or intriguing way.
   • Being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world: "Exotic" refers to something originating from a distant, often tropical, foreign country, and therefore perceived as unusual and interesting.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • She had an exotic hair style that turned heads. (Her hairstyle was strikingly unusual and fascinating.)
  • The restaurant serves exotic cuisine from Southeast Asia. (The restaurant serves food characteristic of a distant, foreign region.)
  • The botanist studied exotic plants in the greenhouse. (The botanist studied plants originating from other parts of the world.)

Advanced Usage

• "Exotic" in physics/science: Used to describe particles, materials, or states that are unusual, rare, or not commonly found.
  • The physicist researched exotic matter with negative energy density.
• "Exotic" as a descriptor for atmosphere or experience: Implies an alluring, unfamiliar, and often luxurious quality.
  • The resort offered an exotic escape from everyday life.

Variants and Related Words

• Exotically (adverb): In an exotic manner.
  • The room was exotically decorated.
• Exoticism (noun): The quality of being attractive or striking because of being unusual or unfamiliar, especially from a distant foreign country.
  • The film's charm lay in its exoticism.

Synonyms

• Foreign: Belonging to, situated in, or derived from another country.
• Alien: Belonging to a foreign country or nation; unfamiliar and disturbing or distasteful.
• Unusual: Not habitually or commonly occurring or done.
• Strange: Unusual or surprising; difficult to understand or explain.

Antonyms

• Familiar: Well known from long or close association.
• Ordinary: With no special or distinctive features; normal.
• Native: Associated with the place or circumstances of a person's birth.
• Commonplace: Not unusual; ordinary.

Related Phrases and Collocations

• Exotic dancer: A performer in striptease or erotic dance (Note: This is a compound noun where "exotic" modifies "dancer").
• Exotic location/destination: A travel destination that is alluringly foreign and unfamiliar.
• Exotic animal/pet: An animal kept as a pet that is unusual and typically from a foreign ecosystem.

Adjective

1. strikingly strange or unusual
   • an exotic hair style
   • protons, neutrons, electrons and all their exotic variants
   • the exotic landscape of a dead planet
2. being or from or characteristic of another place or part of the world
   • alien customs
   • exotic plants in a greenhouse
   • exotic cuisine