different between quirk vs irregularity

English

Etymology

First attested in the 1540s. Of uncertain origin.

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /kw??k/
• Rhymes: -??(r)k

Noun

quirk (plural quirks)

1. an idiosyncrasy; a slight glitch, mannerism; something unusual about the manner or style of something or someone

   The car steers cleanly, but the gearshift has a few quirks.

2. (architecture) An acute angle dividing a molding; a groove that runs lengthwise between the upper part of a moulding and a soffit
3. (archaic) A quibble, evasion, or subterfuge.

   • Had you no quirk / To avoid gullage, sir, by such a creature?

Derived terms

• quirkish
• quirkless
• quirks mode
• quirky

Translations

Verb

quirk (third-person singular simple present quirks, present participle quirking, simple past and past participle quirked)

1. (transitive, intransitive) To move with a wry jerk.

   He quirked an eyebrow.

   The corners of her mouth quirked.

2. (transitive, architecture) To furnish with a quirk or channel.
3. (intransitive, archaic) To use verbal tricks or quibbles
   • 1820, Percy Bysshe Shelley, Oedipus Tyrannus; Or, Swellfoot The Tyrant: A Tragedy in Two Acts:

     I have stung her and wrung her,
     The venom is working;—
     And if you had hung her
     With canting and quirking,
     She could not be deader than she will be soon

English

Etymology

From Middle French irrégularité, from Medieval Latin irregularitas

Morphologically irregular +? -ity

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /?.?r?.?j?.?læ.r?.ti/

Noun

irregularity (countable and uncountable, plural irregularities)

1. (countable) An instance of being irregular.
2. (uncountable) The state or condition of being irregular, or the extent to which something is irregular.
3. (countable) An object or event that is not regular or ordinary.

   an irregularity of surface

4. (countable) A violation of rules.

   An investigation of the irregularities in the company's accounts uncovered a large-scale fraud.

5. (euphemistic) Irregular bowel movement (e.g. diarrhea or constipation).

Synonyms

• (state of being irregular): See also Thesaurus:nonuniformity

Antonyms

• regularity

Related terms

• irregular

Translations