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eccentric

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eccentric


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Eccentric  \Ec*cen"tric\,  n. 
  1.  A  circle  not  having  the  same  center  as  another  contained 
  in  some  measure  within  the  first 
 
  2.  One  who  or  that  which  deviates  from  regularity;  an 
  anomalous  or  irregular  person  or  thing 
 
  3.  (Astron.) 
  a  In  the  Ptolemaic  system,  the  supposed  circular  orbit 
  of  a  planet  about  the  earth,  but  with  the  earth  not  in 
  its  center. 
  b  A  circle  described  about  the  center  of  an  elliptical 
  orbit,  with  half  the  major  axis  for  radius.  --Hutton. 
 
  4.  (Mach.)  A  disk  or  wheel  so  arranged  upon  a  shaft  that  the 
  center  of  the  wheel  and  that  of  the  shaft  do  not  coincide. 
  It  is  used  for  operating  valves  in  steam  engines,  and  for 
  other  purposes.  The  motion  derived  is  precisely  that  of  a 
  crank  having  the  same  throw. 
 
  {Back  eccentric},  the  eccentric  that  reverses  or  backs  the 
  valve  gear  and  the  engine. 
 
  {Fore  eccentric},  the  eccentric  that  imparts  a  forward  motion 
  to  the  valve  gear  and  the  engine. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Eccentric  \Ec*cen"tric\,  a.  [F.  excentrique  formerly  also 
  spelled  eccentrique  fr  LL  eccentros  out  of  the  center, 
  eccentric,  Gr  ?;  ?  out  of  +  ?  center.  See  {Ex-},  and 
  {Center},  and  cf  {Excentral}.] 
  1.  Deviating  or  departing  from  the  center,  or  from  the  line 
  of  a  circle;  as  an  eccentric  or  elliptical  orbit; 
  pertaining  to  deviation  from  the  center  or  from  true 
  circular  motion. 
 
  2.  Not  having  the  same  center;  --  said  of  circles,  ellipses, 
  spheres,  etc.,  which  though  coinciding,  either  in  whole 
  or  in  part  as  to  area  or  volume,  have  not  the  same 
  center;  --  opposed  to  {concentric}. 
 
  3.  (Mach.)  Pertaining  to  an  eccentric;  as  the  eccentric  rod 
  in  a  steam  engine. 
 
  4.  Not  coincident  as  to  motive  or  end 
 
  His  own  ends  which  must  needs  be  often  eccentric  to 
  those  of  his  master.  --Bacon. 
 
  5.  Deviating  from  stated  methods,  usual  practice,  or 
  established  forms  or  laws;  deviating  from  an  appointed 
  sphere  or  way  departing  from  the  usual  course;  irregular; 
  anomalous;  odd;  as  eccentric  conduct.  ``This  brave  and 
  eccentric  young  man.''  --Macaulay. 
 
  He  shines  eccentric,  like  a  comet's  blaze.  --Savage. 
 
  {Eccentric  anomaly}.  (Astron.)  See  {Anomaly}. 
 
  {Eccentric  chuck}  (Mach.),  a  lathe  chuck  so  constructed  that 
  the  work  held  by  it  may  be  altered  as  to  its  center  of 
  motion,  so  as  to  produce  combinations  of  eccentric 
  combinations  of  eccentric  circles. 
 
  {Eccentric  gear}.  (Mach.) 
  a  The  whole  apparatus,  strap,  and  other  parts  by  which 
  the  motion  of  an  eccentric  is  transmitted,  as  in  the 
  steam  engine. 
  b  A  cogwheel  set  to  turn  about  an  eccentric  axis  used  to 
  give  variable  rotation. 
 
  {Eccentric}  {hook  or  gab},  a  hook-shaped  journal  box  on  the 
  end  of  an  eccentric  rod,  opposite  the  strap. 
 
  {Eccentric  rod},  the  rod  that  connects  as  eccentric  strap 
  with  any  part  to  be  acted  upon  by  the  eccentric. 
 
  {Eccentric  sheave},  or  {Eccentric  pulley},  an  eccentric. 
 
  {Eccentric  strap},  the  ring,  operating  as  a  journal  box,  that 
  encircles  and  receives  motion  from  an  eccentric;  --  called 
  also  {eccentric  hoop}. 
 
  Syn:  Irregular;  anomalous;  singular;  odd;  peculiar;  erratic; 
  idiosyncratic;  strange;  whimsical. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  eccentric 
  adj  1:  conspicuously  or  grossly  unconventional  or  unusual; 
  "restaurants  of  bizarre  design--one  like  a  hat, 
  another  like  a  rabbit";  "famed  for  his  eccentric 
  spelling";  "a  freakish  combination  of  styles";  "the 
  outlandish  clothes  of  teenagers";  "outre  and  affected 
  stage  antics"  [syn:  {bizarre},  {freakish},  {freaky},  {flaky}, 
  {outlandish},  {outre}] 
  2:  not  having  a  common  center;  not  concentric;  "eccentric 
  circles"  [syn:  {nonconcentric}]  [ant:  {concentric}] 
  n  1:  a  person  with  an  unusual  or  odd  personality  [syn:  {eccentric 
  person},  {oddball},  {geek}] 
  2:  a  person  of  a  specified  kind  (usually  with  many 
  eccentricities);  "a  strange  character";  "a  friendly 
  eccentric";  "the  capable  type";  "a  mental  case"  [syn:  {character}, 
  {type},  {case}] 




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