singular

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See also: Singular, singulár, and singulär

English

Alternative forms

Etymology

From Middle English singuler, borrowed from Old French, from Latin singulāris (alone of its kind), from Latin singulus (single).

Pronunciation

Adjective

singular (comparative more singular, superlative most singular)

  1. Being only one of a larger population.
    A singular experiment cannot be regarded as scientific proof of the existence of a phenomenon.
    Synonyms: individual; see also Thesaurus:specific
    Antonyms: general; see also Thesaurus:generic
  2. Being the only one of the kind; unique.
    She has a singular personality.
    Synonyms: unique; see also Thesaurus:unique
  3. Distinguished by superiority: peerless, unmatched, eminent, exceptional, extraordinary.
    a man of singular gravity or attainments
    Synonyms: exceptional, extraordinary, remarkable
  4. Out of the ordinary; curious.
    It was very singular; I don't know why he did it.
    Synonyms: curious, eccentric, funny, odd, peculiar, rum, rummy, strange, unusual; see also Thesaurus:strange
    • 1641 (first performance), [John Denham], The Sophy. , 2nd edition, London: J M for H Herringman, , published 1667, →OCLC, Act I, scene ii, page 11:
      So ſingular a ſadneſs / Muſt have a cauſe as ſtrange as the effect: []
    • 1667, John Milton, “Book V”, in Paradise Lost. , London: [Samuel Simmons], , →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: , London: Basil Montagu Pickering , 1873, →OCLC:
      His zeal / None seconded, as out of season judged, / Or singular and rash.
  5. (grammar) Referring to only one thing or person.
    Antonym: plural
  6. (linear algebra, of matrix) Having no inverse.
    Synonym: non-invertible
    Antonyms: invertible, non-singular
  7. (linear algebra, of transformation) Having the property that the matrix of coefficients of the new variables has a determinant equal to zero.
  8. (set theory, of a cardinal number) Not equal to its own cofinality.
  9. (law) Each; individual.
    to convey several parcels of land, all and singular
  10. (obsolete) Engaged in by only one on a side; single.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Noun

singular (plural singulars)

  1. (grammar) A form of a word that refers to only one person or thing.
    Antonym: plural
  2. (logic) That which is not general; a specific determinate instance.

Derived terms

Related terms

Translations

See also

Further reading

Anagrams

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singulāris. Doublet of senglar.

Pronunciation

Adjective

singular m or f (masculine and feminine plural singulars)

  1. singular
    Antonym: plural

Derived terms

Related terms

Noun

singular m (plural singulars)

  1. (grammar) singular

Galician

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singulāris.

Adjective

singular m or f (plural singulares)

  1. (grammar) singular

Related terms

Further reading

Portuguese

Etymology

Learned borrowing from Latin singulāris. Doublet of senheiro.

Pronunciation

 
 

  • Hyphenation: sin‧gu‧lar

Adjective

singular m or f (plural singulares)

  1. singular (being the only one of a kind)
    Synonym: único
  2. (grammar) singular (referring to only one thing)
    Antonym: plural

Derived terms

Related terms

Noun

singular m (plural singulares)

  1. (grammar) singular (form of a word that refers to only one thing)
    Antonym: plural

Romanian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singularis or French singulier.

Pronunciation

Adjective

singular m or n (feminine singular singulară, masculine plural singulari, feminine and neuter plural singulare)

  1. (grammar) singular

Declension

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singulāris.

Noun

sȉngulār m (Cyrillic spelling си̏нгула̄р)

  1. singular
    Synonym: jednìna

Declension

Spanish

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin singulāris. Doublet of señero.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /sinɡuˈlaɾ/
  • Audio (Colombia):(file)
  • Rhymes: -aɾ
  • Syllabification: sin‧gu‧lar

Adjective

singular m or f (masculine and feminine plural singulares)

  1. singular
    Antonym: plural
  2. odd, peculiar
    Synonyms: raro, peculiar

Derived terms

Related terms

Noun

singular m (plural singulares)

  1. singular
    Antonym: plural

Further reading