singular

¹sin·gu·lar

adjective \ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər\

Definition of SINGULAR

1

a : of or relating to a separate person or thing : individual

b : of, relating to, or being a word form denoting one person, thing, or instance <a singular noun>

c : of or relating to a single instance or to something considered by itself

2

: distinguished by superiority : exceptional <an artist of singular attainments>

3

: being out of the ordinary : unusual <on the way home we had a singular adventure>

4

: departing from general usage or expectation : peculiar, odd <the air had a singular chill>

5

a of a matrix : having a determinant equal to zero

b of a linear transformation : having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero

— sin·gu·lar·ly adverb

Examples of SINGULAR

1. In the phrase “his car is red,” the word “car” is a singular noun.
2. “Walks” in “she walks everyday” is a singular verb.
3. He had a singular appearance.

Origin of SINGULAR

Middle English singuler, from Anglo-French, from Latin singularis, from singulus only one — more at single

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SINGULAR

Synonyms

aberrant, aberrated, abnormal, anomalous, atypical, especial, exceeding, extraordinaire, extraordinary, freak, odd, peculiar, phenomenal, preternatural, rare, exceptional, uncommon, uncustomary, unique, unusual, unwonted

Antonyms

common, customary, normal, ordinary, typical, unexceptional, unextraordinary, usual

Related Words

conspicuous, notable, noticeable, outstanding, prominent, remarkable, salient, striking; bizarre, deviant, eccentric, freakish, monstrous, oddball, outlandish, quaint, strange, weird; incomprehensible, inconceivable, incredible, unimaginable, unthinkable

Near Antonyms

everyday, familiar, frequent

See Synonym Discussion at strange

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile

²singular

noun

Definition of SINGULAR

1

: the singular number, the inflectional form denoting it, or a word in that form

2

: a singular term

First Known Use of SINGULAR

14th century

Other Grammar and Linguistics Terms

ablaut, allusion, anacoluthon, diacritic, gerund, idiom, infinitive, metaphor, semiotics, simile