eccentricity
gb/ˌɛksəntɹˈɪsəti/ us/ˌɛksəntɹˈɪsəti/
C1
English
különcség, excentrikusság, hóbort, excentricitás
NOUN
C1
1
különcség
B2
Usage pattern:
the eccentricity of [someone/something]
His eccentricity made him memorable at every meeting.
Különcsége minden megbeszélésen emlékezetessé tette őt.
The film balances emotional realism with just enough eccentricity to feel fresh.
A film az érzelmi realizmust épp elég különcséggel ötvözi ahhoz, hogy frissnek hasson.
She was admired for her intelligence as much as for her eccentricity.
Learner examples
People liked her eccentricity.
Az emberek kedvelték a különcségét.
His eccentricity sometimes surprised his friends.
A különcsége néha meglepte a barátait.
Common mistake:
Do not confuse with "electricity"; "eccentricity" is about being unusual or off-center.
Meaning
being unusually strange or unconventional
Collocations
personal eccentricity
|artistic eccentricity
|charming eccentricity
|mere eccentricity
|a hint of eccentricity
|a degree of eccentricity
|tolerate eccentricity
|celebrate eccentricity
|known for eccentricity
|famous for eccentricity
Synonyms
oddness (more general and less formal.)
|
unconventionality (focuses on not following common rules or styles.)
|
quirkiness (suggests a playful, harmless kind of unusualness.)
|
idiosyncrasy (emphasizes something distinctive and personal.)
Antonyms
conventionality (following normal or traditional ways.)
|
normality (being typical or standard.)
Themes
personality
|social_life
|behavior
Definition
the quality of being a little strange or different from other people
the quality of behaving, dressing, or thinking in a way that is noticeably unusual and not in line with what most people do
NOUN
C1
2
Usage pattern:
an eccentricity of [someone/something]; [someone]'s eccentricities
One of his eccentricities was labeling every drawer in the kitchen.
Az egyik hóbortja az volt, hogy a konyhában minden fiókot felcímkézett.
The biography describes her eccentricities with warmth rather than judgment.
Az életrajz meleg hangon, nem pedig ítélkezően írja le a hóbortjait.
They accepted his eccentricities because he was brilliant at his job.
Learner examples
He has many eccentricities.
Sok hóbortja van.
An eccentricity of mine is keeping old tickets.
Az egyik hóbortom az, hogy régi jegyeket őrzök.
Common mistake:
In this meaning, it is often countable: "an eccentricity" / "his eccentricities."
Meaning
an unusual habit or trait
Collocations
a minor eccentricity
|a harmless eccentricity
|a charming eccentricity
|an old eccentricity
|personal eccentricities
|his eccentricities
|her eccentricities
|forgive someone's eccentricities
|put up with someone's eccentricities
|list someone's eccentricities
Synonyms
quirk (very common; often friendly in tone.)
|
oddity (can sound more critical or detached.)
|
idiosyncrasy (often implies a consistent, recognizable personal trait.)
Antonyms
habit (neutral term without the idea of being unusual.)
|
convention (a normal, widely followed practice.)
Themes
personality
|daily_life
|behavior
Definition
a strange or unusual habit
an unusual habit, preference, or detail that is typical of a particular person or thing
NOUN
C1
TECHNICAL
3
Usage pattern:
the eccentricity of [an orbit/ellipse]
Earth’s orbital eccentricity is small, so its orbit is close to circular.
A Föld pályaexcentricitása kicsi, ezért a pályája közel kör alakú.
The comet’s high eccentricity indicates a very elongated orbit.
Az üstökös nagy excentricitása nagyon elnyúlt pályára utal.
You can compute the ellipse’s eccentricity from its major and minor axes.
Meaning
how noncircular an orbit is
Collocations
orbital eccentricity
|eccentricity of an orbit
|eccentricity of an ellipse
|high eccentricity
|low eccentricity
|near-zero eccentricity
|calculate the eccentricity
|eccentricity value
|eccentricity close to zero
|increasing eccentricity
Synonyms
ellipticity (often used for ovalness in other technical contexts; not always identical.)
Antonyms
circularity (the state of being perfectly round (eccentricity 0).)
Themes
science
|astronomy
|mathematics
Definition
a number that tells how oval an orbit is
a number that describes how much an orbit or an ellipse differs from a perfect circle, with 0 meaning a circle and larger values meaning a more elongated shape
NOUN
C2
TECHNICAL
4
Usage pattern:
eccentricity of [a shaft/rotor/bearing/hole]
The vibration was traced to eccentricity in the motor shaft.
A rezgést a motortengely excentricitására vezették vissza.
Technicians measured the eccentricity of the drilled hole before assembly.
A szerelés előtt a technikusok megmérték a furat excentricitását.
Tighter tolerances reduce eccentricity and improve performance.
Meaning
amount a part is off-center
Collocations
shaft eccentricity
|rotor eccentricity
|bearing eccentricity
|radial eccentricity
|measure eccentricity
|eccentricity error
|reduce eccentricity
|excessive eccentricity
|tolerance for eccentricity
|eccentricity in machining
Synonyms
offset (broader; not limited to rotational alignment.)
|
misalignment (emphasizes being out of proper alignment rather than distance from center.)
Antonyms
concentricity (being properly centered on the same axis.)
|
alignment (being correctly positioned in line.)
Themes
engineering
|manufacturing
|science
Definition
how far something is from the exact center
the distance or amount by which a part, axis, or hole is displaced from the intended center or alignment, especially in rotating or machined components
Grammar
Dictionary form
eccentricity
IPA
GB/ˌɛksəntɹˈɪsəti/
US/ˌɛksəntɹˈɪsəti/
Syllables & stress
ec - cent - ri - city (4 syllables)
Stress on 3rd syllable (ri)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: eccentricity
- Plural: eccentricities, eccentricity
Word family
Expressions
a touch of eccentricity
1/ə tˈʌt͡ʃ əv ˌɛksəntɹˈɪsəti/
fixed phrase
a small amount of oddness
a little bit of strange style
Examples
- The hotel has a touch of eccentricity that guests love.
- Her outfits always include a touch of eccentricity.
- The design is mostly classic, with a touch of eccentricity.
Learner examples
- His style has a touch of eccentricity.
an air of eccentricity
1/ən ˈɛɹ əv ˌɛksəntɹˈɪsəti/
fixed phrase
an impression of being unusual
a feeling that someone is a bit strange
Examples
- He spoke politely but with an air of eccentricity.
- The old house had an air of eccentricity that matched its owner.
- There was an air of eccentricity about the shop, from the music to the lighting.
for all [someone]'s eccentricities
1/fɚ ˈɔl sˈoʊmˈoʊnz ˌɛksɛntɹˈɪsɪtiz/
fixed phrase
despite someone's odd habits
even though someone is a bit strange
Examples
- For all his eccentricities, he was a reliable and generous friend.
- For all her eccentricities, the team valued her judgment.
- For all their eccentricities, the neighbors are kind people.
Learner examples
- For all his eccentricities, I like him.
quirks and eccentricities
1/kwˈɚks ˈænd ˌɛksɛntɹˈɪsɪtiz/
fixed phrase
small unusual habits and traits
someone’s small strange habits
Examples
- The article describes the author’s quirks and eccentricities in a humorous way.
- Over time, you learn a partner’s quirks and eccentricities.
- The director encouraged the actors to add their own quirks and eccentricities to the roles.
Learner examples
- Everyone has quirks and eccentricities.