eccentricity
/ˌɛk.sɛnˈtɹɪs.ɪ.ti/ noun C2- The quality of being eccentric or odd; any eccentric behaviour.
- The ratio, constant for any particular conic section, of the distance of a point from the focus to its distance from the directrix. · 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.
- 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).
- The farthest distance from a vertex to any other vertex.
Plural eccentricities
From the library
Tell your client that, although I am the insulted party, in order to carry out my eccentricity, I leave him the choice of arms, and will accept without discussion, without dispute, anything, even combat by drawing lots, which is always stupid, but with me different from other people, as I am sure to gain.”
His accent was American, but was not accompanied by any eccentricity of speech.
There are some trees, Watson, which grow to a certain height, and then suddenly develop some unsightly eccentricity.
Science loves eccentricities, leaps and bounds, trials of strength, fancies, if I may be allowed so to term them.
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