/ pɪˈkjuːliə(r); NAmE / adjective
1.
strange or unusual, especially in a way that is unpleasant or worrying
SYN odd :
a peculiar smell / taste
There was something peculiar in the way he smiled.
I had a peculiar feeling we'd met before.
For some peculiar reason , she refused to come inside.
—compare odd
2.
peculiar (to sb/sth) belonging or relating to one particular place, situation, person, etc., and not to others :
a humour that is peculiar to American sitcoms
a species of bird peculiar to Asia
He has his own peculiar style which you'll soon get used to.
the peculiar properties of mercury
3.
( BrE , informal ) slightly ill / sick
•
IDIOMS
see funny
••
WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English (in the sense particular ): from Latin peculiaris of private property, from peculium property, from pecu cattle (cattle being private property). The sense strange dates from the early 17th cent.