Main Entry: ¹sin·gu·lar

Pronunciation: \ˈsiŋ-gyə-lər\

Function: adjective

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

Date: 14th century

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

synonyms see strange

— sin·gu·lar·ly adverb