kiosk

(kē'ŏsk', kē-ŏsk')
n.

1. A small open gazebo or pavilion.
2. A small structure, often open on one or more sides, used as a newsstand or booth.
3. A cylindrical structure on which advertisements are posted.

[French kiosque, from Turkish köşk, from Middle Persian gōshak, corner, from Avestan *gaoshaka-, diminutive of gaosha-, ear.]

WORD HISTORY   The lowly kiosk where newspapers are sold or advertisements are posted is like a child in a fairy tale raised by humble parents but descended from kings. The word kiosk was originally taken into English from Turkish, in which its source köşk meant "pavilion." The open structures referred to by the Turkish word were used as summerhouses in Turkey and Persia. The first recorded use of kiosk in English (1625) refers to these Middle Eastern pavilions, which Europeans imitated in their own gardens and parks. In France and Belgium, where the Turkish word had also been borrowed, their word kiosque was applied to something lower on the scale, structures resembling these pavilions but used as places to sell newspapers or as bandstands. England borrowed this lowly structure from France and reborrowed the word, which is first recorded in 1865 with reference to a place where newspapers are sold.

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An independent stand from which merchandise is sold, often placed in the common area of a regional shopping center.

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An independent stand from which merchandise is sold, often placed in the common area of a regional shopping center.


Example: Figure 104.

FIG. 104. KIOSK

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1. A small pavilion, usually open, built in gardens and parks.
2. A similar structure, often enclosed, for the sale of merchandise such as newspapers or magazines.

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A small, temporary, standalone booth used in high-foot-traffic areas for marketing purposes. A kiosk will usually be manned by one or two individuals who help attract attention to the booth to get new customers.

 

 

Investopedia Says:

Because of their small, temporary nature, kiosks can be a low-cost marketing strategy. They are also a good way to give a company a human face, and provide customers the opportunity to ask questions about a product.

For example, a local newspaper might set up a kiosk at a grocery store to try to sign up new subscribers. Similarly, credit card companies often set up kiosks in airports to seek new customers for a credit card that offers frequent-flyer miles.

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IN BRIEF: A small structure with one or more open sides.

Harold spent the summer selling mashed potato sandwiches and ginger ale from a kiosk by the seashore.

LearnThatWord.com is a free vocabulary and spelling program where you only pay for results!

For a list of words related to kiosk, see:

• Types of Buildings - kiosk: small structure with one or more open sides; open summerhouse or pavilion
• Outbuildings, Gardens, and Fences - kiosk: small pavilion, open on one or more sides, used as newsstand, bandstand, or covered entryway
• Urban Structures and Phenomena - kiosk: small, open, circular building used as newsstand or telephone booth
• Commerce and Trade - kiosk: small structure open on one side for street sales

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See words rhyming with "kiosk."

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
n. - kiosk

Nederlands (Dutch)
telefooncel, kiosk, paviljoen (Turkije/Iran)

Français (French)
n. - kiosque

Deutsch (German)
n. - Telefonzelle, Kiosk, Verkaufsstand

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - κιόσκι, περίπτερο, θάλαμος (τηλεφώνου)

Italiano (Italian)
chiosco, cabina telefonica, edicola

idioms:

• telephone kiosk    cabina telefonica

Português (Portuguese)
n. - quiosque (m)

idioms:

• telephone kiosk    orelhão (m)(fig.)

Русский (Russian)
киоск, будка, открытая эстрада

idioms:

• telephone kiosk    телефонная будка

Español (Spanish)
n. - cabina, quiosco, kiosco

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - kiosk

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
亭, 报摊, 凉亭

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 亭, 報攤, 涼亭

한국어 (Korean)
n. - 정자, 간이건물, 공중 전화 박스

日本語 (Japanese)
n. - キオスク, あずまや

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) كشك في شارع‏

עברית (Hebrew)
n. - ‮תא טלפון, קיוסק‬

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