Reading Theme:

Language:

Font Size:

📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Odd: Definition, Usage & Key Differences (3 meaning)

Meaning 1：strange or unusual (odd)

odd 🔊

/ɒd/

adj.

Not normal or usual; a bit strange.

Odd meaning illustrated by a spoon stuck at an impossible angle in a coffee mug, showing strangeness.

strange or unusual 🔊

➕

/streɪndʒ ɔːr ʌnˈjuːʒuəl/

adj.

Deviating from the normal, standard, or expected, often in a way that causes slight curiosity or unease.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：初级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Old Norse 'oddi', meaning 'point of a weapon', 'triangle', or 'odd number'.

💡 Mnemonic

Oddly, the ODD duck had ONE leg (an ODD number) and behaved STRANGELY on ODD occasions.

📖 Example

It's odd that my coffee mug is already warm, I haven't made any coffee yet. 🔊 It's strange that my coffee mug is already warm, I haven't made any coffee yet.

🔗 Collocations

odd behavior – Unusual or strange actions.

find it odd – To think something is strange or peculiar.

odd feeling – A strange or unsettling sensation.

🔄 Synonyms

strange (adj.) – Unusual or surprising, especially in a way that is difficult to understand.

peculiar (adj.) – Different from what is usual or normal, often with a sense of belonging distinctively to a particular person or thing.

weird (adj.) – Very strange and unexpected, sometimes suggesting a supernatural or eerie quality.

🚫 Antonyms

normal (adj.) – Conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected.

ordinary (adj.) – With no special or distinctive features; usual or common.

usual (adj.) – Habitually or typically occurring or done.

🌱 Derivatives

oddity (n.) – A strange or peculiar person, thing, or trait.

oddly (adv.) – In a strange or unusual manner.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'odd' came into English from Old Norse via Viking invaders. Initially referring to a triangle (an 'odd' shape with an unequal number of sides), it evolved to mean 'single' or 'unpaired', leading to its mathematical and general 'strange' meanings. This illustrates language contact between Old English and Old Norse.

Meaning 2：occasional (odd)

odd 🔊

/ɒd/

adj.

Happening or appearing sometimes, but not regularly or often.

occasional 🔊

➕

/əˈkeɪʒənəl/

adj.

Occurring or appearing at irregular intervals; not happening frequently or on a regular schedule.

📁 Category：Time & Dates 🔖 Level：中级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

We meet for coffee on odd weekends when we're both free. 🔊 We meet for coffee on occasional weekends when we're both free.

🔗 Collocations

odd occasion – A rare or infrequent time or event.

at odd times – At irregular or unpredictable times.

odd jobs – Small, miscellaneous tasks that are done occasionally.

🔄 Synonyms

occasional (adj.) – Happening or appearing from time to time, but not regularly.

sporadic (adj.) – Occurring at irregular intervals; scattered or isolated.

infrequent (adj.) – Not occurring often; rare.

🚫 Antonyms

regular (adj.) – Arranged in or constituting a constant or definite pattern.

frequent (adj.) – Occurring or done on many occasions, in many cases, or in quick succession.

Meaning 3：odd number (odd)

odd 🔊

/ɒd/

adj.

(In math) A number that cannot be divided exactly by two, like 1, 3, or 5.

odd number 🔊

➕

/ɒd ˈnʌmbər/

adj.

In mathematics, any integer that cannot be divided exactly by two, such as 1, 3, 5, -7, etc.

📁 Category：School Education 🔖 Level：高级

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

The house numbers on this side of the street are all odd numbers: 1, 3, 5, and so on. 🔊 The house numbers on this side of the street are all odd numbers: 1, 3, 5, and so on.

🔗 Collocations

odd number – An integer not divisible by two.

odd integer – A whole number that is odd.

🚫 Antonyms

even (adj.) – (In math) Able to be divided exactly by two, such as 2, 4, 6, etc.

🌱 Derivatives

oddness (n.) – The state or quality of being odd, including the mathematical property.