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. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
3. (Mach.) Pertaining to an eccentric; as, the eccentric rod in a steam engine. [ 1913 Webster ]
4. Not coincident as to motive or end. [ 1913 Webster ]
His own ends, which must needs be often eccentric to those of his master. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]
He shines eccentric, like a comet's blaze. Savage. [ 1913 Webster ]
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. [ 1913 Webster ]