quirk

[kwurk]

noun

1. a peculiarity of action, behavior, or personality; mannerism.

   He is full of strange quirks.

2. a shift, subterfuge, or evasion; quibble.

3. a sudden twist or turn.

   He lost his money by a quirk of fate.

4. a flourish or showy stroke, as in writing.

5. Architecture.

   1. an acute angle or channel, as one dividing two parts of a molding or one dividing a flush bead from the adjoining surfaces.

   2. an area taken from a larger area, as a room or a plot of ground.

   3. an enclosure for this area.

6. Obsolete.,  a clever or witty remark; quip.

adjective

1. formed with a quirk or channel, as a molding.

quirk

/ kwɜːk /

noun

1. an individual peculiarity of character; mannerism or foible

2. an unexpected twist or turn

   a quirk of fate

3. a continuous groove in an architectural moulding

4. a flourish, as in handwriting

Other Word Forms

• quirkily adverb
• quirkiness noun
• quirky adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of quirk¹

First recorded in 1540–50; origin uncertain

Word History and Origins

Origin of quirk¹

C16: of unknown origin

Synonym Study

See eccentricity.

Example Sentences

Guests can charge their Teslas while getting ‘epic bacon’ and tuna melts carhopped to their vehicles, and other unique quirks we learned at the opening of Elon Musk’s new Tesla Diner in Hollywood.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

We moved from the East Coast four years ago and are still getting to know all the interesting neighborhoods, foods and quirks of Los Angeles.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Some analysts say that investors could be less lenient with such quirks once Buffett steps down, but whether Berkshire will provide more clarity is another question.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A quirk of the calendar handed Jetten even more positive exposure.

Read more on Barron's

Accelerating the trend are quirks of the military industry and tech world.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aberration 
• characteristic 
• eccentricity 
• foible 
• habit 
• idiosyncrasy 
• kink 
• mannerism 
• peculiarity 
• trait 
• twist 
• vagary