freak

[ freek ]

/ frik /

noun

any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration.

a person or animal on exhibition as an example of a strange deviation from nature; monster.

a sudden and apparently causeless change or turn of events, the mind, etc.; an apparently capricious notion, occurrence, etc.: That kind of sudden storm is a freak.

Numismatics. an imperfect coin, undetected at the mint and put into circulation.

Philately. a stamp differing from others of the same printing because of creases, dirty engraving plates, etc. Compare error(def 8), variety(def 8).

Slang.

a person who has withdrawn from normal, rational behavior and activities to pursue one interest or obsession: a drug freak.
a devoted fan or follower; enthusiast: a baseball freak.
a hippie.

Archaic. capriciousness; whimsicality.

adjective

unusual; odd; irregular: a freak epidemic.

verb (used with or without object)

to become or make frightened, nervous, or wildly excited: The loud noise caused the horse to freak.

Verb Phrases

freak out, Slang.

to enter into or cause a period of irrational behavior or emotional instability, as under the influence of a drug: to be freaked out on LSD.
to lose or cause to lose emotional control from extreme excitement, shock, fear, joy, despair, etc.: Seeing the dead body freaked him out.

Origin of freak

1555–65; 1965–70 for def 6; perhaps akin to Old English frīcian to dance

SYNONYMS FOR freak

3 vagary, quirk, crotchet.

SEE SYNONYMS FOR freak ON THESAURUS.COM

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH freak

freak phreak

Words nearby freak

frcm, frco, frcp, frcs, frcvs, freak, freak of nature, freak out, freak show, freak-out, freaking

Definition for freak (2 of 2)

freak ²

[ freek ]

/ frik /

verb (used with object)

to fleck, streak, or variegate: great splashes of color freaking the sky.

noun

a fleck or streak of color.

Origin of freak

apparently introduced by Milton in Lycidas (1637), perhaps as blend of freck to mark with spots (perhaps back formation from freckle) and streak

Example sentences from the Web for freak

Really, is it any wonder that fluoride should freak people out?

Anti-Fluoriders Are The OG Anti-Vaxxers |Michael Schulson |July 27, 2016 |DAILY BEAST
And in a culture as paranoid as ours, we freak out about them all the time.

Valerie Jarrett, Obama Consigliere—and Democracy Killer |James Poulos |November 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
After her husband dies in a freak accident, Regal moves to Tel Aviv.

Trans in the Holy Land: ‘Marzipan Flowers,’ Tal Kallai, and the Shattering of Israel’s LGBT Taboos |Itay Hod |November 4, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Freak Show, then, by its very name should be his crowning achievement.

‘American Horror Story: Freak Show’ Premiere Is Super-Freaky (But a Little Boring) |Kevin Fallon |October 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

American Horror Story: Freak Show, it seems, is a revenge tale.

‘American Horror Story: Freak Show’ Premiere Is Super-Freaky (But a Little Boring) |Kevin Fallon |October 9, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
In short, Hare's view of the average American is now such an anachronism as to entitle him fairly to be called a freak.

A Year in Europe |Walter W. Moore
The freak memory is not worth striving for, but a good working memory decidedly is.

The Art of Public Speaking |Dale Carnagey (AKA Dale Carnegie) and J. Berg Esenwein
He was afterwards heartily ashamed of this freak, which he wonders he could ever have been guilty of.

The International Monthly, Volume 3, No. 2, May, 1851 |Various
“It must have been the freak of some Indian hunter,” said Ned, examining the rock on which the little flag-staff was raised.

The Golden Dream |R.M. Ballantyne
His visitor had seemed so genuinely interested, and, above all, had treated him like a rational human being instead of a freak.

Shavings |Joseph C. Lincoln

British Dictionary definitions for freak (1 of 2)

freak ¹

/ (friːk) /

noun

a person, animal, or plant that is abnormal or deformed; monstrosity

an object, event, etc, that is abnormal or extremely unusual
(as modifier)a freak storm

a personal whim or caprice

informal a person who acts or dresses in a markedly unconventional or strange way

informal a person who is obsessed with something specified a jazz freak

verb

See freak out

Word Origin for freak

C16: of obscure origin

British Dictionary definitions for freak (2 of 2)

freak ²

/ (friːk) rare /

noun

a fleck or streak of colour

verb

(tr) to streak with colour; variegate

Word Origin for freak

C17: from earlier freaked, probably coined by Milton, based on streak 1 + obsolete freckt freckled; see freckle

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

freak

noun

adjective

verb (used with or without object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of freak

SYNONYMS FOR freak

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH freak

Words nearby freak

Definition for freak (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of freak

Example sentences from the Web for freak

British Dictionary definitions for freak (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for freak

British Dictionary definitions for freak (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for freak

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

freak

noun

adjective

verb (used with or without object)

Verb Phrases

Origin of freak

SYNONYMS FOR freak

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH freak

Words nearby freak

Definition for freak (2 of 2)

verb (used with object)

noun

Origin of freak

Words related to freak

Example sentences from the Web for freak

British Dictionary definitions for freak (1 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for freak

British Dictionary definitions for freak (2 of 2)

noun

verb

Word Origin for freak