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unique
[ yoo-neek ]
/ yuËnik /
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adjective
existing as the only one or as the sole example; single; solitary in type or characteristics: a unique copy of an ancient manuscript.
having no like or equal; unparalleled; incomparable: Bach was unique in his handling of counterpoint.
limited in occurrence to a given class, situation, or area: a species unique to Australia.
limited to a single outcome or result; without alternative possibilities: Certain types of problems have unique solutions.
not typical; unusual: She has a very unique smile.
noun
the embodiment of unique characteristics; the only specimen of a given kind: The unique is also the improbable.
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Origin of unique
First recorded in 1595â1605; from French, from Latin Ć«nicus, equivalent to Ć«n(us) âoneâ + -icus -ic
usage note for unique
Many authors of usage guides, editors, teachers, and others feel strongly that such âabsoluteâ words as complete, equal, perfect, and especially unique cannot be compared because of their âmeaningâ: a word that denotes an absolute condition cannot be described as denoting more or less than that absolute condition. However, all such words have undergone semantic development and are used in a number of senses, some of which can be compared by words like more, very, most, absolutely, somewhat, and totally and some of which cannot.
The earliest meanings of unique when it entered English around the beginning of the 17th century were âsingle, soleâ and âhaving no equal.â By the mid-19th century unique had developed a wider meaning, ânot typical, unusual,â and it is in this wider sense that it is compared: The foliage on the late-blooming plants is more unique than that on the earlier varieties. The comparison of so-called absolutes in senses that are not absolute is standard in all varieties of speech and writing.
See also a1, complete, perfect.
The earliest meanings of unique when it entered English around the beginning of the 17th century were âsingle, soleâ and âhaving no equal.â By the mid-19th century unique had developed a wider meaning, ânot typical, unusual,â and it is in this wider sense that it is compared: The foliage on the late-blooming plants is more unique than that on the earlier varieties. The comparison of so-called absolutes in senses that are not absolute is standard in all varieties of speech and writing.
See also a1, complete, perfect.
OTHER WORDS FROM unique
u·nique·ly, adverbu·nique·ness, nounnon·u·nique, adjectivenon·u·nique·ly, adverbWords nearby unique
uniplanar, unipod, unipolar, unipotent, unipotential, unique, uniqueness, uniramous, unironically, UNISA, uniseptate
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use unique in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for unique
unique
/ (juËËniËk) /
adjective
being the only one of a particular type; single; sole
without equal or like; unparalleled
informal very remarkable or unusual
maths
- leading to only one resultthe sum of two integers is unique
- having precisely one valuethe unique positive square root of 4 is 2
Derived forms of unique
uniquely, adverbuniqueness, nounWord Origin for unique
C17: via French from Latin Ć«nicus unparalleled, from Ć«nus one
usage for unique
Unique is normally taken to describe an absolute state, i.e. one that cannot be qualified. Thus something is either unique or not unique; it cannot be rather unique or very unique. However, unique is sometimes used informally to mean very remarkable or unusual and this makes it possible to use comparatives or intensifiers with it, although many people object to this use
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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