If you say that someone is eccentric, you mean that they behave in a strange way, and have habits or opinions that are different from those of most people.
He is an eccentric character who likes wearing a beret and dark glasses.
Synonyms: odd, strange, bizarre, weird More Synonyms of eccentric
An eccentric is an eccentric person.
On first impressions it would be easy to dismiss Jonathan as an eccentric.
eccentrically (ɪksentrɪkli)adverb [ADVERB adjective/-ed, ADVERB after verb]
The painters were eccentrically dressed.
More Synonyms of eccentric
eccentric in British English
(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
3.
not having a common centre
eccentric circles
Compare concentric
4.
not precisely circular
Also: eccentrical (ɪkˈsɛntrɪkəl)
noun
5.
a person who deviates from normal forms of behaviour, esp in a bizarre manner
6.
a device for converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion
Derived forms
eccentrically (ecˈcentrically)
adverb
Word origin
C16: from Medieval Latin eccentricus, from Greek ekkentros out of centre, from ek-ex-1 + kentron centre
eccentric in American English
(ɛkˈsɛntrɪk; ɪkˈsɛntrɪk)
adjective
1.
not having the same center, as two circles one inside the other
see also concentric
2.
not having the axis exactly in the center; off-center
an eccentric wheel
3.
not exactly circular in shape or motion
4.
deviating from the norm, as in conduct; odd; unconventional
noun
5.
a disk set off center on a shaft and revolving inside a strap that is attached to one end of a rod, thereby converting the circular motion of the shaft into back-and-forth motion of the rod
6.
an odd or unconventional person
Derived forms
eccentrically (ecˈcentrically)
adverb
Word origin
ME eccentrik < ML eccentricus < LL eccentros, out of the center, eccentric < Gr ekkentros < ek-, out of (see ex-1) + kentron, center
eccentric in Automotive Engineering1
(ɪksɛntrɪk)
Word forms: (regular plural) eccentrics
noun
(Automotive engineering: Vehicle components, Engine, transmission, and exhaust)
An eccentric is any circular component of a vehicle that rotates around an off-center axis.
The slide valves were worked by eccentrics, rods, and rocking links.
When the eccentric rotates, the rocker arm moves the diaphragm up and down.
The top end of the lever is connected to the control rod and the center is mountedon an eccentric, which is rotated by the accelerator pedal.
eccentric in Automotive Engineering2
(ɪksɛntrɪk)
adjective
(Automotive engineering: Design and performance)
An eccentric component of a vehicle rotates around an off-center axis.
COLLOCATIONS: ~ cam
Tapping screw heads should not be eccentric with the axis of the screw by more than 3 percent of the maximum head diameter.
The action of the eccentric cam moves the diaphragm up and down, pumping fuel to the engine.
The rotation of the eccentric cam causes the three pistons to reciprocate in their chambers to produce the highpressure.
Examples of 'eccentric' in a sentence
eccentric
The only solution would be to counterbalance this negativity in my own eccentric little way.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It was ingenious and might have seemed eccentric, but it was magical.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
They are not great eccentrics, and do not see themselves engaged in any great struggle against other universities.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
We need to shrug off this image that inventing is about eccentric people locked away in sheds.
The Sun (2014)
It is the marvellously eccentric characters who stand out.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yesterday friends of the mum spoke out about her eccentric behaviour.
The Sun (2013)
With that kind of cash it could be very easy to become a crazy eccentric.
The Sun (2012)
My own brand little of eccentric pop.
The Sun (2008)
His eccentric character and honesty appeals to many.
The Sun (2016)
Some of his behaviour would seem eccentric in normal circumstances.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
These beautiful and sometimes eccentric people need understanding from a society that sadly sees difference as a reason to bully.
The Sun (2010)
He was also a great eccentric.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
He was quite an eccentric character.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
The newsletter's attacks on individuals seem an eccentric way of wooing voters.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
Its eccentric English owner had just died and the cello was for sale.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The jumper's sports gene seems somewhat eccentric.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
All slightly eccentric, but great fun.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
We can become eccentric and nobody minds, which is a great freedom.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In those days they could seem eccentric, too.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The insides are modish to a fault, but not eccentric in the way the exterior will be.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
A doctor duly stood up, to find himself directly addressed by the great eccentric.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Sometimes I play up being odd and eccentric, just to put distance between me and other people.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
In other languages
eccentric
British English: eccentric /ɪkˈsɛntrɪk/ ADJECTIVE
If you say that someone is eccentric, you mean that they behave in a strange way, and have habits or opinions that are different from those of most people.
He is an eccentric character who likes wearing a beret and dark glasses.
American English: eccentric
Arabic: شاذّ
Brazilian Portuguese: excêntrico
Chinese: 古怪的
Croatian: ekscentričan
Czech: výstřední
Danish: excentrisk
Dutch: zonderling
European Spanish: excéntrico
Finnish: epätavallinen eksentrinen
French: excentrique
German: exzentrisch
Greek: εκκεντρικός
Italian: eccentrico
Japanese: 風変わりな
Korean: 별난
Norwegian: eksentrisk
Polish: ekscentryczny
European Portuguese: excêntrico
Romanian: excentric
Russian: эксцентричный
Latin American Spanish: excéntrico
Swedish: excentrisk
Thai: แปลก
Turkish: eksantrik
Ukrainian: ексцентричний
Vietnamese: kỳ dị
All related terms of 'eccentric'
eccentric anomaly
something anomalous
eccentric behaviour
People's or animals' behaviour is the way that they behave . You can refer to a typical and repeated way of behaving as a behaviour .
eccentric character
You use character to say what kind of person someone is. For example, if you say that someone is a strange character , you mean they are strange.
anomaly
If something is an anomaly , it is different from what is usual or expected.
magnetic anomaly
something anomalous
mean anomaly
something anomalous
true anomaly
something anomalous
Chinese translation of 'eccentric'
eccentric
(ɪkˈsɛntrɪk)
adj
[person]怪僻的 (guàipì de)
[behaviour, views, ideas]古怪的 (gǔguài de)
n(c)
古怪的人 (gǔguài de rén) (个(個), gè)
(adjective)
Definition
unconventional or odd
an eccentric character who wears a beret and sunglasses
Synonyms
odd
She'd always been odd, but not to this extent.
strange
There was something strange about the flickering blue light.
bizarre
That book you lent me is really bizarre.
weird
I don't like that guy – he's really weird.
peculiar
She has a very peculiar sense of humour.
abnormal
a child with an abnormal fear of strangers
queer (informal)
If you ask me, there's something queer going on.
irregular
The minister was accused of irregular business practices.
uncommon
Certain types of flu are uncommon.
quirky
We've developed a reputation for being quite quirky and original.
out there (slang)
singular
He was without doubt a singular character.
unconventional
He was known for his unconventional behaviour.
idiosyncratic
off-the-wall (slang)
surreal off-the-wall humour
outlandish
This idea is not as outlandish as it seems.
whimsical
He had an offbeat, whimsical sense of humour.
rum (British, slang)
It was a rum sort of joke.
capricious
anomalous
For years his anomalous behaviour has baffled scientists.
freakish
a freakish monstrous thing, something out of a dream
aberrant
His rages and aberrant behaviour worsened.
wacko (slang, old-fashioned)
outré
outré outfits designed by art students
daggy (Australian, New Zealand, informal)
his slightly daggy hobby of collecting novelty tea towels
Opposites
average
,
normal
,
regular
,
ordinary
,
typical
,
conventional
,
straightforward
,
run-of-the-mill
(noun)
Definition
a person who behaves unconventionally or oddly
My other friend was a real English eccentric.
Synonyms
crank (informal)
People think I'm a crank because of my beliefs.
character (informal)
He'll be sadly missed. He was a real character.
nut (slang)
freak (informal)
The cast consisted of a bunch of freaks and social misfits.
flake (slang, mainly US)
oddity
He's a bit of an oddity, but quite harmless.
oddball (informal)
loose cannon
nonconformist
Hoover's task was to collect information on radicals and nonconformists.