I. yüˈnēk, ˈ ̷ ̷ˌ ̷ ̷ adjective
( sometimes -er/-est )
Etymology: French, from Latin unicus sole, single, unique, from unus one + -icus -ic — more at one
1.
a. : being the only one : sole
earning money whose unique object could be nothing but Cyril's welfare — Arnold Bennett
has thus preserved the original and often unique records — G.B.Parks
you are a miracle, a wonder, a mystery … one single unique and inimitable living thing — J.C.Powys
b. of a book : known to exist in no other copy
2. : being without a like or equal : single in kind or excellence : unequaled
they stand alone, unique , objects of supreme interest — A.B.Osborne
as historian he knows that events, like persons, are unique — J.M.Barzun
remains singularly himself, a unique lyrist of the first water — I.L.Salomon
an almost unique experience — Havelock Ellis
tendencies present in our contemporary world which make our own times somewhat unique — M.B.Smith
story of his life is considerably more unique than most autobiographies — Dorothy C. Fisher
the more we study him, the less unique he seems — Harry Levin
— sometimes used with to
the problem of what to do with surplus women is by no means unique to our own society — Ralph Linton
or with
by no means unique with the song sparrow — Nature Magazine
3. : unusual , notable
possessed unique ability in the raising of funds — D.F.Thwing
the wife of a career diplomat has a unique opportunity to observe the world political scene — Ray Pierre
a frankness unique in literature — David Daiches
unique peach and privacy — R.W.Hatch
cheap, nourishing, and a unique dining experience — T.H.Fielding
the most unique characteristic of that environment — R.A.Billington
she's the most unique person I ever met — Arthur Miller
the most unique theater in town — advt
4. : capable of being performed in only one way
the factorization of a number into its prime factors is unique
Synonyms: see single , strange
II. noun
( -s )
: something (as a specimen, thing, circumstance, or person) that is unique : the only one of its kind
mistaking the unique for the typical — W.J.Reilly
the zest of the collector for possession of a unique — Roy Bedichek
a display of glass, including undercoated uniques — Danish Foreign Office Journal
the phoenix, the unique of birds — Thomas De Quincey