¦ adjective
1. relating to treatment or products intended to improve a person's appearance.
2. affecting only the appearance of something: the reform package was merely a cosmetic exercise.
¦ noun (usu. cosmetics) a cosmetic preparation, especially for the face.
Derivatives
cosmetically adverb
Origin
C17: from Fr. cosmetique, from Gk kosmetikos, from kosmein 'arrange or adorn', from kosmos 'order or adornment'.