eccentric

[ ik-sen-trik, ek- ]
See synonyms for: eccentriceccentrically on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. deviating from the recognized or customary character, practice, etc.; irregular; erratic; peculiar; odd: eccentric conduct;an eccentric person.

  2. Geometry. not having the same center; not concentric: used especially of two circles or spheres at least one of which contains the centers of both.

  1. (of an axis, axle, etc.) not situated in the center.

  2. Machinery. having the axis or support away from the center: an eccentric wheel.

  3. Astronomy. deviating from a circular form, as an elliptic orbit.

noun
  1. a person who has an unusual, peculiar, or odd personality, set of beliefs, or behavior pattern.

  2. something that is unusual, peculiar, or odd.

  1. Machinery. a device for converting circular motion into rectilinear motion, consisting of a disk fixed somewhat off-center to a revolving shaft, and working freely in a surrounding collar (eccentric strap ), to which a rod (eccentric rod ) is attached.

Origin of eccentric

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; from Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Greek ékkentr(os) “out of center” (see ec-, center) + Latin -icus -ic
  • Also especially British, ex·cen·tric .

Other words for eccentric

Opposites for eccentric

Other words from eccentric

  • ec·cen·tri·cal, adjective
  • ec·cen·tri·cal·ly, adverb
  • non·ec·cen·tric, adjective
  • non·ec·cen·tri·cal·ly, adverb
  • un·ec·cen·tric, adjective
  • un·ec·cen·tri·cal·ly, adverb

Words Nearby eccentric

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use eccentric in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for eccentric

eccentric

/ (ɪkˈsɛntrɪk) /


adjective
  1. deviating or departing from convention, esp in a bizarre manner; irregular or odd

  2. situated away from the centre or the axis

  1. not having a common centre: eccentric circles Compare concentric

  2. not precisely circular

noun
  1. a person who deviates from normal forms of behaviour, esp in a bizarre manner

  2. a device for converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion

Origin of eccentric

1
C16: from Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Greek ekkentros out of centre, from ek- ex- 1 + kentron centre

Derived forms of eccentric

  • eccentrically, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012