different between exceptional vs spectacular

English

Etymology

exception +? -al

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?k?s?p??n?l/
• Hyphenation: ex?cep?tion?al

Adjective

exceptional (comparative more exceptional, superlative most exceptional)

1. Forming an exception; not ordinary; uncommon; rare.

   What an exceptional flower!

2. Better than the average; superior due to exception or rarity.

   The quality of the beer was exceptional.

3. (geometry) Corresponding to something of lower dimension under a birational correspondence.

   an exceptional curve; an exceptional divisor

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:excellent
• egregious (most often used negatively, however)

Antonyms

• (forming an exception): ordinary, categorical, common, general, usual
• (superior due to exception or rarity): ordinary, mediocre, commonplace

Derived terms

• exceptional space
• exceptionally
• exceptionalism

Translations

Noun

exceptional (plural exceptionals)

1. An exception, or something having an exceptional value
   • 1909, Pediatrics (volume 21, page 276)

     Above and beyond all these exceptionals, by reason of divergencies from the norms of mental and of physical status, there are quite a number of moral defectives.

English

Etymology

From Latin spectaculum (“a sight, show”) + -ar

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /sp?k?tæk.j?.l?/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /sp?k?tæk.j?.l?/
• Rhymes: -ækj?l?(?)
• Hyphenation: spec?tac?u?lar

Adjective

spectacular (comparative more spectacular, superlative most spectacular)

1. Amazing or worthy of special notice.

   The parachutists were spectacular.

2. (dated) Related to, or having the character of, a spectacle or entertainment.

   the merely spectacular

   • 1681, George Hickes, “A Sermon Preached before the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Citizens of London”:

     The like clamour, and outcry, the Rabble of the unbelieving Jews and Gentiles made again?t Polycarp Bi?hop of Smyrna, at the time of his Martyrdom. crying out again?t him to the Governour, that he ?hould ca?t him to the Lyons, and when he an?wered them he could not, becau?e the Spectacular ?ports were concluded, then they cry’d out, Burn him, burn him, ju?t as the Jews cryed out again?t Chri?t to Pilate, Crucify him, crucify him.
3. Relating to spectacles, or glasses for the eyes.

Derived terms

• spectacularly
• unspectacular

Related terms

• spectacle
• species
• speculate

Translations

Further reading

• spectacular in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• spectacular in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Noun

spectacular (plural spectaculars)

1. A spectacular display.
   • 2010, "Under the volcano", The Economist, 16 Oct 2010:

     Though business has more or less held up so far, a series of drug-related spectaculars sparked an exodus of the city's upper class this summer.

2. (advertising) A pop-up (folded paper element) in material sent by postal mail.
   • 1966, Hanley Norins, The Compleat Copywriter

     Here are a few examples of "spectaculars," or three-dimensional pieces, including those which have won awards […]

Romanian

Etymology

From French spectaculaire

Adjective

spectacular m or n (feminine singular spectacular?, masculine plural spectaculari, feminine and neuter plural spectaculare)

1. spectacular

Declension