strange

strange¹ W2S2 [streındʒ] adj comparative stranger superlative strangest

[Date: 1200-1300; : Old French; Origin: estrange 'foreign', from Latin extraneus; EXTRANEOUS]

1.) unusual or surprising, especially in a way that is difficult to explain or understand

= ↑odd

▪ strange noises

▪ Does Geoff's behaviour seem strange to you?

▪ She felt there was something strange about Dexter's voice.

▪ Isn't it strange how animals seem to sense danger?

▪ It's strange that we've never met before.

▪ For some strange reason I slept like a baby despite the noise.

▪ Strange as it may seem, I actually prefer cold weather.

▪ That's strange . I was sure Jude was right here a second ago.

▪ The strange thing is all four victims had red hair.

strange to say

BrE (=strangely)

▪ Strange to say, I was just thinking that myself.

see usage note ↑unusual

2.) someone or something that is strange is not familiar because you have not seen or met them before

▪ As a child she'd been taught never to speak to strange men.

▪ I was just 20, a young girl in a strange city.

strange to

▪ It was all strange to him, but he'd soon learn his way around.

3.) feel strange

to feel as if something is slightly wrong or unusual, either physically or emotionally

▪ Can you get me a glass of water? I feel a bit strange.

▪ It felt strange to be back in Dublin.

>strangely adv

>strangeness n [U]

strange ²

strange² adv [only after verb] AmE

in a way that is unusual or surprising

▪ The cat's been acting really strange - I wonder if it's sick.