freak

¹ American  

[freek] / frik /

noun

1. any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration.

2. a person or animal on exhibition as an example of a strange deviation from nature.

3. a sudden and apparently causeless change or turn of events, the mind, etc.; an apparently capricious notion, occurrence, etc..

   That kind of sudden storm is a freak.

   Synonyms:

   crotchet, quirk, vagary

4. Numismatics. an imperfect coin, undetected at the mint and put into circulation.

5. Philately. a stamp differing from others of the same printing because of creases, dirty engraving plates, etc.

6. Slang.

   1. a person who has withdrawn from normal, rational behavior and activities to pursue one interest or obsession.

      a drug freak.

   2. a devoted fan or follower; enthusiast.

      a baseball freak.

   3. a hippie.

7. Archaic. capriciousness; whimsicality.

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adjective

1. unusual; odd; irregular.

   a freak epidemic.

verb (used with or without object)

1. to become or to make (someone) insane or out of control, as a result of being frightened, wildly excited, or high on drugs: The loud noise freaked the horses just as they were being loaded into trailers.

   Mom'll freak if she ever finds out we threw that party when she was out of town.

   The loud noise freaked the horses just as they were being loaded into trailers.

verb phrase

1. freak out freakout.

freak ² American  

[freek] / frik /

verb (used with object)

1. to fleck, streak, or variegate.

   great splashes of color freaking the sky.

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noun

1. a fleck or streak of color.

freak ¹ British  

/ friːk /

noun

1. a person, animal, or plant that is abnormal or deformed; monstrosity

2. 1. an object, event, etc, that is abnormal or extremely unusual

   2. ( as modifier )

      a freak storm

3. a personal whim or caprice

4. informal a person who acts or dresses in a markedly unconventional or strange way

5. informal a person who is obsessed with something specified

   a jazz freak

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verb

1. See freak out

freak ² British  

/ friːk /

noun

1. a fleck or streak of colour

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verb

1. (tr) to streak with colour; variegate

Etymology

Origin of freak¹

First recorded in 1555–65; 1965–70 freak ¹ for def. 6; perhaps akin to Old English frīcian “to dance”

Origin of freak²

Apparently introduced by Milton in Lycidas (1637), perhaps as blend of freck to mark with spots (perhaps back formation from freckle ) and streak

Example Sentences

When I politely told my 80-something mother-in-law that we would need to meet at the church for the service instead of going to her house early, she completely freaked out.

From MarketWatch

“Life will throw so many freaking distractions at you,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal

"I'm assuming it's just a freak accident," he said, though he added he "was not sure how avoidable" the ferry capsizing was.

From BBC

DaCosta: I wrote it on spec, so I wasn’t thinking about anything besides letting my freak flag fly, basically.

From Los Angeles Times

Here he is describing a collaboration between Eric Dolphy and Ron Carter: “It is free. It is beautiful. It is funny even! It freaks me out! Give me my brain back!”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• addict
• buff
• devotee
• enthusiast
• fanatic
• fiend
• maniac
• nut