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The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 (gcide)

Eccentric \Ec*cen"tric\ ([e^]k*s[e^]n"tr[i^]k), a. [F.
excentrique, formerly also spelled eccentrique, fr. LL.
eccentros out of the center, eccentric, Gr. 'e`kkentros; 'ek
out of ke`ntron center. See {Ex-}, and {Center}, and cf.
{Excentral}.]
1. Deviating or departing from the center, or from the line
of a circle; as, an eccentric or elliptical orbit;
pertaining to deviation from the center or from true
circular motion.
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2. Not having the same center; -- said of circles, ellipses,
spheres, etc., which, though coinciding, either in whole
or in part, as to area or volume, have not the same
center; -- opposed to {concentric}.
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3. (Mach.) Pertaining to an eccentric; as, the eccentric rod
in a steam engine.
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4. Not coincident as to motive or end.
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His own ends, which must needs be often eccentric to
those of his master. --Bacon.
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5. Deviating from stated methods, usual practice, or
established forms or laws; deviating from an appointed
sphere or way; departing from the usual course; irregular;
anomalous; odd; as, eccentric conduct. "This brave and
eccentric young man." --Macaulay.
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He shines eccentric, like a comet's blaze. --Savage.
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{Eccentric anomaly}. (Astron.) See {Anomaly}.

{Eccentric chuck} (Mach.), a lathe chuck so constructed that
the work held by it may be altered as to its center of
motion, so as to produce combinations of eccentric
combinations of eccentric circles.

{Eccentric gear}. (Mach.)
(a) The whole apparatus, strap, and other parts, by which
the motion of an eccentric is transmitted, as in the
steam engine.
(b) A cogwheel set to turn about an eccentric axis used to
give variable rotation.

{Eccentric hook} or {Eccentric gab}, a hook-shaped journal
box on the end of an eccentric rod, opposite the strap.

{Eccentric rod}, the rod that connects an eccentric strap
with any part to be acted upon by the eccentric.

{Eccentric sheave}, or {Eccentric pulley}, an eccentric.

{Eccentric strap}, the ring, operating as a journal box, that
encircles and receives motion from an eccentric; -- called
also {eccentric hoop}.

Syn: Irregular; anomalous; singular; odd; peculiar; erratic;
idiosyncratic; strange; whimsical.
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Eccentric \Ec*cen"tric\ ([e^]k*s[e^]n"tr[i^]k), n.
1. A circle not having the same center as another contained
in some measure within the first.
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2. One who, or that which, deviates from regularity; an
anomalous or irregular person or thing.
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3. (Astron.)
(a) In the Ptolemaic system, the supposed circular orbit
of a planet about the earth, but with the earth not in
its center.
(b) A circle described about the center of an elliptical
orbit, with half the major axis for radius. --Hutton.
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4. (Mach.) A disk or wheel so arranged upon a shaft that the
center of the wheel and that of the shaft do not coincide.
It is used for operating valves in steam engines, and for
other purposes. The motion derived is precisely that of a
crank having the same throw.
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{Back eccentric}, the eccentric that reverses or backs the
valve gear and the engine.

{Fore eccentric}, the eccentric that imparts a forward motion
to the valve gear and the engine.
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