Advertisement

View synonyms for freak

freak

1

[ freek ]

noun

  1. any abnormal phenomenon or product or unusual object; anomaly; aberration.
  2. a person or animal on exhibition as an example of a strange deviation from nature.
  3. 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.

    Synonyms: crotchet, quirk, vagary

  4. Numismatics. an imperfect coin, undetected at the mint and put into circulation.
  5. Philately. a stamp differing from others of the same printing because of creases, dirty engraving plates, etc. Compare error ( def 8 ), variety ( def 7 ).
  6. Slang.
    1. a person who has withdrawn from normal, rational behavior and activities to pursue one interest or obsession:

      a drug freak.

    2. a devoted fan or follower; enthusiast:

      a baseball freak.

  7. Archaic. capriciousness; whimsicality.


adjective

  1. a freak epidemic.

verb (used with or without object)

  1. to become or to make (someone) insane or out of control, as a result of being frightened, wildly excited, or high on drugs: The loud noise freaked the horses just as they were being loaded into trailers.

    Mom'll freak if she ever finds out we threw that party when she was out of town.

    The loud noise freaked the horses just as they were being loaded into trailers.

verb phrase

  1. Slang. freakout.

freak

2

[ freek ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to fleck, streak, or variegate:

    great splashes of color freaking the sky.

noun

  1. a fleck or streak of color.

freak

1

/ friːk /

noun

  1. a person, animal, or plant that is abnormal or deformed; monstrosity
    1. an object, event, etc, that is abnormal or extremely unusual
    2. ( as modifier )

      a freak storm

  2. a personal whim or caprice
  3. informal.
    a person who acts or dresses in a markedly unconventional or strange way
  4. informal.
    a person who is obsessed with something specified

    a jazz freak

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


verb

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

freak

2

/ friːk /

noun

  1. a fleck or streak of colour
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. tr to streak with colour; variegate
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of freak1

First recorded in 1555–65; 1965–70 freak 1fordef 6; perhaps akin to Old English frīcian “to dance”

Origin of freak2

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of freak1

C16: of obscure origin

Origin of freak2

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

Example Sentences

Still, fans can’t help but happily freak out that Janet Hubert, the actress who played the original Aunt Viv in the ’90s series, was included in the festivities.

Two weeks ago, after freak lightning strikes torched Northern California but before the inferno of Labor Day weekend had begun, a friend called to talk, like you do when the world is turning to crap and nothing is stable or makes sense.

In a matter of weeks, California has been hit with two record-breaking heat waves, hundreds of blazes, freak lightning storms and dangerously poor air quality.

From Fortune

People freak out if there’s a single bad day whereas in the past there was a little more leniency.

From Digiday

People also can’t tell if you have a mask when it’s hiding in your pocket, so you could freak out an immunocompromised hiker or runner.

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

They had a freak-out moment and destroyed some source material.

I was already a full-blown movie freak by the time I was in 8th grade.

And in a culture as paranoid as ours, we freak out about them all the time.

After her husband dies in a freak accident, Regal moves to Tel Aviv.

But to others it was only a freak of the lad's imagination, which had been much influenced by the reading of romances.

Another contributory source to this oddest freak of my life was the terms on which I had returned to the college.

A child born with three legs is a freak of nature, a monstrosity, yet it sometimes appears.

The Druggists Circular is to be congratulated on exposing this latest pharmaceutical freak.

By some freak of nature here was a place where the breed ran to high blood.

Advertisement

Related Words

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


FRCVSfreaking