irregularity
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ir·reg·u·lar·i·ty
(ĭ-rĕg′yə-lăr′ĭ-tē)n. pl. ir·reg·u·lar·i·ties
1. The quality or state of being irregular.
2. Something irregular: found the firm's books riddled with irregularities.
3. Constipation.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
irregularity
(ɪˌrɛɡjʊˈlærɪtɪ)n, pl -ties
1. the state or quality of being irregular
2. something irregular, such as a bump in a smooth surface
3. a breach of a convention or normal procedure
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
ir•reg•u•lar•i•ty
(ɪˌrɛg yəˈlær ɪ ti)n., pl. -ties.
1. the quality or state of being irregular.
2. something irregular.
3. a breach of rules, customs, etc.
4. occasional mild constipation.
[1275–1325; Middle English < Old French < Medieval Latin]
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
Regularity/Irregularity
- Balance as a tail balances a kite —Anon
- Balanced as the scales of justice —Anon
- [A cat’s purring] intermittent as a walkie-talkie —Lorrie Moore
- Irregular as French verbs —Anon
- Random, like love’s choices —Patricia Hampl
- Regular as a clock —Slogan for Serutan laxative, Healthaids, Inc.
- Regular as a heartbeat —Mary Hedin
- Regular as a metronome —Edward Hoagland
- Regular as a motor boat —Lee Smith
A more specific variation: “Regular as the chug-chug of a motor boat.”
- Regular as sun and tide —Wallace Stegner
- Regular as the moon makes the tides —Henry James
- Rhythmic as water —Amy Hempel
In Hempel’s story, Beg, si tog, Inc, Cont, Rep, it’s the sliding knitting needles that are likened to water.
- Scattered like applause during a bad act —Anon
- Steadily as a shell secretes its beating leagues of monotone —Hart Crane
- Symmetrical as a doily —Betsy Wade, New York Times, May 2, 1986
The descriptive frame of reference is a tree.
Similes Dictionary, 1st Edition. © 1988 The Gale Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | irregularity - behavior that breaches the rule or etiquette or custom or morality |
2. | irregularity - not characterized by a fixed principle or rate; at irregular intervals quality - an essential and distinguishing attribute of something or someone; "the quality of mercy is not strained"--Shakespeare inhomogeneity - the quality of being inhomogeneous fitfulness, jerkiness - the quality of being spasmodic and irregular intermittence, intermittency - the quality of being intermittent; subject to interruption or periodic stopping wavering, fluctuation - the quality of being unsteady and subject to changes; "he kept a record of price fluctuations" haphazardness, stochasticity, randomness, noise - the quality of lacking any predictable order or plan unevenness, variability - the quality of being uneven and lacking uniformity unsteadiness - the quality of being unsteady--varying and unpredictable regularity - the quality of being characterized by a fixed principle or rate; "he was famous for the regularity of his habits" | |
3. | irregularity - an irregular asymmetry in shape; an irregular spatial pattern | |
4. | irregularity - irregular and infrequent or difficult evacuation of the bowels; can be a symptom of intestinal obstruction or diverticulitis symptom - (medicine) any sensation or change in bodily function that is experienced by a patient and is associated with a particular disease dyschezia - difficulty in defecating (usually as a consequence of long continued voluntary suppression of the urge to defecate) fecal impaction - accumulation of hardened feces in the rectum or lower colon which the person cannot move obstipation - severe constipation resulting from an obstruction in the intestines |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
irregularity
noun
1. inconsistency, randomness, disorganization, unsteadiness, unpunctuality, haphazardness, disorderliness, lack of method, desultoriness a dangerous irregularity in her heartbeat
2. unevenness, deformity, asymmetry, crookedness, contortion, patchiness, lopsidedness, raggedness, lack of symmetry, spottiness, jaggedness treatment of irregularities of the teeth
3. malpractice, anomaly, breach, abnormality, deviation, oddity, aberration, malfunction, peculiarity, singularity, unorthodoxy, unconventionality charges arising from alleged financial irregularities malpractice
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
irregularity
noun1. Lack of smoothness or regularity:
2. The condition of being abnormal:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
عَدَم إنتِظام
nepravidelnostneregulérnost
uregelmæssighed
egyenetlenségrendellenességszabálytalanság
óregla, ójafna
düzensizlikusulsüzlük
irregularity
[ɪˌregjʊˈlærɪtɪ] N1. (= unevenness) [of shape, surface, features] → irregularidad f
2. (= spasmodic nature) [of attendance, meals, pulse] → irregularidad f
3. (= unorthodox nature) [of behaviour] → irregularidad f
the irregularity of his actions surprised us all → lo poco ortodoxo de su forma de actuar nos sorprendió a todos
a number of irregularities were observed → se observaron una serie de irregularidades
the irregularity of his actions surprised us all → lo poco ortodoxo de su forma de actuar nos sorprendió a todos
a number of irregularities were observed → se observaron una serie de irregularidades
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
irregularity
[ɪˌrɛgjʊˈlærɪti] n [heart rate, periods] → irrégularité f
This is likely to produce irregularities of heart rate → Cela produira probablement des irrégularités du pouls., Cela produira probablement des irrégularités du rythme cardiaque.
This is likely to produce irregularities of heart rate → Cela produira probablement des irrégularités du pouls., Cela produira probablement des irrégularités du rythme cardiaque.
[shape, size, arrangement] → irrégularité f
(= incorrect practice) → irrégularité f
financial irregularity → des irrégularités financières
procedural irregularity → irrégularité procédurale
There had been some procedural irregularity → Il y avait eu irrégularité procédurale.
financial irregularity → des irrégularités financières
procedural irregularity → irrégularité procédurale
There had been some procedural irregularity → Il y avait eu irrégularité procédurale.
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
irregularity
n
(= unevenness) → Unregelmäßigkeit f; (of teeth, shape, coastline) → Ungleichmäßigkeit f; (of surface) → Unebenheit f; (= lack of uniformity) → Uneinheitlichkeit f; (of sb’s life) → Ungeregeltheit f
(= failure to conform) → Unstatthaftigkeit f; (= non-observation of rules) → Unvorschriftsmäßigkeit f; (= unlawfulness) → Ungesetzlichkeit f; (of marriage) → unvorschriftsmäßige Durchführung; (= impropriety: of behaviour) → Ungebührlichkeit f, → Ungehörigkeit f; a slight irregularity in the proceedings → ein kleiner Formfehler
(Gram) → Unregelmäßigkeit f
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
irregular
(iˈregjulə) adjective1. not happening etc regularly. His attendance at classes was irregular.
2. not formed smoothly or evenly. irregular handwriting.
3. contrary to rules.
4. (in grammar) not formed etc in the normal way. irregular verbs.
irˈregularly adverbirˈreguˈlarity (-ˈla-) noun
(plural irreguˈlarities).
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.