Dictionary
Find
in
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Translations

Click to move up the list of words
eburnation
EBV
EC
écarté (1)
écarté (2)
ECB
ecbolic
ecce homo
eccentric
eccentricity
ecchymosis
Eccl.
eccl.
Eccles.
eccles.
Eccles cake
Ecclesiastes
Click to move down the list of words
Print Preview
See pronunciation key
Search for "eccentric" in all of MSN Encarta
E-mail this entry
Blog about this entry on MSN Spaces
Download the MSN Encarta Right-Click Dictionary

eccentric

ec·cen·tric [ ik séntrik, ek séntrik ]


adjective 
Definition:
 
1. unconventional: unconventional, especially in a whimsical way
an eccentric mode of dress

2. technology away from center: away from the center or axis

3. mathematics having different centers: describes circles with different centers

4. astronomy elliptical: describes an orbit that is elliptical rather than circular



noun  (plural ec·cen·trics)
Definition:
 
1. unconventional person: an unconventional person who has unusual habits

2. mechanical engineering mechanical device: a mechanical device with an off-center axis of revolution that converts the rotary motion of one component of a mechanism to reciprocating motion in another

[Mid-16th century. < late Latin eccentricus< Greek ekkentros "out of center" < kentron (see center)]

ec·cen·tri·cal·ly adverb
Advertisement

Also on Encarta
Englishtown: Learn English online
Our Partners
Also on MSN
Encarta Message Boards (© Rubberball/Jupiterimages)
Shopping
© 2009 Microsoft