odd

IPA

Dictionary definition of odd

Strange, peculiar, or unusual, deviating from the norm or expected patterns.
"The odd behavior of the dog alerted us to the presence of a stranger."

Detailed meaning of odd

For example, an odd behavior may involve acting in a peculiar or unconventional manner. Secondly, "odd" can denote an individual item or number that is not evenly divisible by two, making it an odd number. In this mathematical sense, odd numbers are characterized by having a remainder of one when divided by two. Additionally, "odd" can describe a discrepancy or irregularity, indicating something that doesn't fit or align with the rest. For instance, an odd one out in a group refers to an item or person that stands out as different or unique. Lastly, "odd" can be used to express a sense of surprise or suspicion, such as when encountering a peculiar or unexpected situation. Overall, the adjective "odd" encompasses notions of strangeness, peculiarity, mathematical divisibility, discrepancy, uniqueness, and surprise.

Example sentences containing odd

1. The odd-shaped cloud resembled a dancing dragon in the sky.
2. It's rather odd to see a penguin in the middle of the desert.
3. Her odd behavior raised eyebrows at the office party.
4. The odd combination of flavors in the dish surprised everyone.
5. That antique shop always has the most odd and unique items.
6. An odd noise echoed through the empty, dark hallway.

History and etymology of odd

The adjective 'odd' has an etymology that traces back to the Old Norse word 'odda,' which means 'third or additional number.' In Old Norse, 'odda' was used to describe something that was unusual or different because it did not fit the common pairs or even numbers. Over time, this meaning evolved, and the term 'odd' came to refer to things that were strange, peculiar, or out of the ordinary, deviating from the expected patterns or norms. Therefore, the etymology of 'odd' reflects its historical association with things that stand out as different or unusual, often because they do not conform to conventional expectations or regular numerical sequences.

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Further usage examples of odd

1. The cat's odd habit of chasing its own tail entertained us.
2. His choice of attire for the formal event was truly odd.
3. The old, abandoned house had an eerie and odd atmosphere.
4. It's odd how the weather can change so suddenly.
5. The odd markings on the rock intrigued archaeologists.
6. An odd sensation washed over her as she entered the room.
7. The odd occurrence of two rainbows in the sky amazed us.
8. It's odd that he always wears mismatched socks on purpose.
9. The odd symbol on the ancient map led them on a quest.
10. The odd scent in the air hinted at an approaching storm.
11. An odd sensation of déjà vu washed over her in that place.
12. The odd contraption in his garage turned out to be a time machine.
13. His odd sense of humor always kept the group laughing.
14. The odd pattern in the clouds seemed to spell out a message.
15. She had an odd habit of collecting mismatched socks.
16. The old house had an odd smell that couldn't be identified.
17. It was an odd coincidence to run into my childhood friend in a foreign country.
18. His odd sense of humor always left everyone laughing.
19. The puzzle was missing an odd-shaped piece, making it difficult to complete.
20. The clock struck an odd number of times, leaving me unsure of the actual time.
21. The odd noise coming from the attic made me feel uneasy.
22. It was odd to see a cat chasing its tail in circles.
23. The odd choice of colors in her artwork made it stand out among the others.
24. He had an odd way of expressing his emotions, often through cryptic messages.
25. I found an odd trinket hidden among the books on the shelf.