Dictionary.com | Meanings & Definitions of English Words (original) (raw)

View synonyms for quirk

quirk

noun

1. a peculiarity of action, behavior, or personality; mannerism:
   He is full of strange quirks.
2. a shift, subterfuge, or evasion; quibble.
3. He lost his money by a quirk of fate.
4. a flourish or showy stroke, as in writing.
5. 1. an acute angle or channel, as one dividing two parts of a molding or one dividing a flush bead from the adjoining surfaces.
   2. an area taken from a larger area, as a room or a plot of ground.
   3. an enclosure for this area.
6. Obsolete. a clever or witty remark; quip.

adjective

1. formed with a quirk or channel, as a molding.

/ kwɜːk /

noun

1. an individual peculiarity of character; mannerism or foible
2. an unexpected twist or turn
   a quirk of fate
3. a continuous groove in an architectural moulding
4. a flourish, as in handwriting

Discover More

Derived Forms

• ˈquirkily, adverb
• ˈquirkiness, noun
• ˈquirky, adjective

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of quirk1

First recorded in

1540–50;

origin uncertain

Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of quirk1

C16: of unknown origin

Discover More

Synonym Study

Discover More

Example Sentences

Grant chooses goofy professor over, say, conflicted wannabe monk, and offers, if nothing else, a reminder that a boyish smile and twinkling blue eyes are simply quirks of genetics rather than reflections of humanity.

A quirk of the fixture list – and Sporting’s refusal to let Amorim leave immediately – created the story.

This rule quirk potentially decided the race, and certainly disadvantaged Lando Norris and George Russell to the benefit of Max Verstappen and the Alpine drivers, who eventually finished on the podium.

That gave Proksch a range of personality quirks to pull from over his six seasons of playing the vampire comedy’s breakout favorite.

All the little quirks that really move you.”