Eccentricity

/ˌɛk.sɛnˈtɹɪs.ɪ.ti/ · noun

Meaning

The quality of being eccentric or odd; any eccentric behaviour..

Definitions by Sense

1. The quality of being eccentric or odd; any eccentric behaviour.
2. (geometry) The ratio, constant for any particular conic section, of the distance of a point from the focus to its distance from the directrix.
3. (astronomy) The eccentricity of the conic section (usually an ellipse) defined by the orbit of a given object around a reference object (such as that of a planet around the sun).
4. (graph theory) The farthest distance from a vertex to any other vertex.

Example Sentences

Although the Celebrity was almost impervious to sarcasm, he was now beginning to exhibit visible signs of uneasiness, the consciousness dawning upon him that his eccentricity was not receiving the ovation it merited.

For an ellipse, the eccentricity is the ratio of the distance from the center to a focus divided by the length of the semi-major axis.

Synonyms for eccentricity

Antonyms for eccentricity

Related Words

Word Forms

• eccentricities

Usage Notes

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