>>35843
Well seems like a dictionary definition would be a good start [1]. The first definition there is pretty spot-on

>Possessing physical features, behaviors, personality traits or other properties that are mainly attributed to infants and small or cuddly animals; e.g. fair, dainty, round, and soft physical features, disproportionately large eyes and head, playfulness, fragility, helplessness, curiosity or shyness, innocence, affectionate behavior.
The only circular definition might be "cuddly", but the specific qualities listed should help disambiguate.

Although perhaps more interesting is that the meaning of "cute" has diverged from its original:
>Shortened from acute, originally “keenly perceptive or discerning, shrewd” (1731). Meaning transferred to “pretty, fetching” by US students (slang) c.1834. Meaning drifted further to describe the pleasing attraction to features usually possessed by the young.


[1] https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/cute#English

To my non-native brain, I understood cute as something attractive and/or beautiful but doesn't evoke any sexual desire. I would call a pretty butterfly cute or a nice, colorful wallpaper pattern cute but reading the dictionary definition posted above I see that's incorrect. Interesting.

>>35849
There are multiple definitions to cute. You might be referring to the usage as
>Generally, attractive or pleasing, especially in a youthful, dainty, quaint or fun-spirited way.
Although to me calling a butterfly "cute" seems a bit weird unless it's one of those cartoonish butterflies. Ditto for calling a colorful wallpaper "cute," since I normally only attribute cuteness to things that are nominally "alive" or intended to portray life (so a stuffed animal or figurine would count as well).

Then again maybe the term has diverged even further since I do recall some kids using "cute" in the sense you described, even though I feel the term "pretty" would fit better.

Post edited on 9th Sep 2020, 4:07pm

>>35852
Your post is pretty cute, anon.