pe ‧ cu ‧ li ‧ ar /pɪˈkjuːliə $ -ər/ BrE AmE adjective
[ Date: 1400-1500 ; Language: Latin ; Origin: peculiaris 'of private property, special' , from peculium 'private property' , from pecu 'cattle' ]
1 . strange, unfamiliar, or a little surprising:
There was a peculiar smell in the kitchen.
Something peculiar is going on.
It seems very peculiar that no one noticed Kay had gone.
2 . be peculiar to somebody/something if something is peculiar to a particular person, place, or situation, it is a feature that only belongs to that person or only exists in that place or situation:
The problem of racism is not peculiar to this country.
3 . behaving in a strange and slightly crazy way:
He’s been a little peculiar lately.
She’s a very peculiar child.
4 . feel peculiar/come over all peculiar British English informal to feel slightly ill
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THESAURUS
▪ strange unusual or surprising, especially in a way that is difficult to understand, or that is a little frightening:
What’s that strange noise downstairs?
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That’s strange – I’m sure I left my keys on the table.
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a strange old man
▪ funny/odd especially spoken a little strange and making you feel slightly surprised or worried:
There’s a funny smell in the kitchen.
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It’s odd that you can’t remember him at all.
▪ curious especially written strange, especially in an interesting way. Curious is a little more formal than strange :
a curious fact
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There’s something rather curious about small-town America.
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She remembered curious little details.
▪ mysterious strange – used about something that people know little about and are unable to explain or understand:
He had disappeared in mysterious circumstances.
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There were reports of mysterious lights in the sky.
▪ eccentric strange in a way that seems slightly crazy and amusing – used about people and their behaviour:
He lived completely alone and had some slightly eccentric habits.
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an eccentric old lady
▪ peculiar slightly strange, and different from what you would normally expect – used especially when this is either amusing or worrying:
She sometimes wears rather peculiar clothes.
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He had a peculiar expression on his face.