SINGULAR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does singular mean? 

• SINGULAR (noun)
  The noun SINGULAR has 1 sense:

1. the form of a word that is used to denote a singleton

  Familiarity information: SINGULAR used as a noun is very rare.

• SINGULAR (adjective)
  The adjective SINGULAR has 6 senses:

1. unusual or striking

2. beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

3. being a single and separate person or thing

4. composed of one member, set, or kind

5. grammatical number category referring to a single item or unit

6. the single one of its kind

  Familiarity information: SINGULAR used as an adjective is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SINGULAR (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The form of a word that is used to denote a singleton

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

singular; singular form

Hypernyms ("singular" is a kind of...):

descriptor; form; signifier; word form (the phonological or orthographic sound or appearance of a word that can be used to describe or identify something)

Antonym:

plural (the form of a word that is used to denote more than one)

• SINGULAR (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Unusual or striking

Synonyms:

remarkable; singular

Context example:

such poise is singular in one so young

Similar:

extraordinary (beyond what is ordinary or usual; highly unusual or exceptional or remarkable)

Derivation:

singularity (strangeness by virtue of being remarkable or unusual)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Beyond or deviating from the usual or expected

Synonyms:

curious; funny; odd; peculiar; queer; rum; rummy; singular

Context example:

singular behavior

Similar:

strange; unusual (being definitely out of the ordinary and unexpected; slightly odd or even a bit weird)

Derivation:

singularity (strangeness by virtue of being remarkable or unusual)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Being a single and separate person or thing

Context example:

every fact in the world might be singular...unlike any other fact and sole of its kind

Similar:

individual; single (being or characteristic of a single thing or person)

Derivation:

singularity (the quality of being one of a kind)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Composed of one member, set, or kind

Antonym:

plural (composed of more than one member, set, or kind)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Grammatical number category referring to a single item or unit

Antonym:

plural (grammatical number category referring to two or more items or units)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The single one of its kind

Synonyms:

singular; unique

Context example:

certain types of problems have unique solutions

Similar:

single (existing alone or consisting of one entity or part or aspect or individual)

Derivation:

singularity (the quality of being one of a kind)

 Context examples 

Colonel Barclay himself seems to have had some singular traits in his character.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

That is singular, because you sat down in that chair over yonder near the corner.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It was a singular sight which met our eyes.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“Do you prefer reading to cards?” said he; “that is rather singular.”

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Among others, there was one person, whose case appeared a little singular.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

It was indeed a singular scene which met their eyes.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He looked at me in a most singular fashion.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

So they talked, these singular men, and I, looking from one to the other, could not imagine how they could help bursting out a-laughing in each other’s faces.

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He was a boy of singular talent and fancy.

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

The singular of bacteria is bacterium.

(Bacteria, NCI Dictionary)