# strange

/ˈstɹeɪndʒ/ (US) · /stɹˈeɪndʒ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/strange
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. unusual or odd

adjective · CEFR A2

unusual, surprising, or difficult to understand.

For teachers: deviating from what is ordinary, expected, or understood; often carries a connotation of being slightly unsettling.

- I heard a strange noise coming from the basement in the middle of the night.
- The witness provided a strange account of the evening's events, mentioning details that seemed entirely inconsistent with the physical evidence found at the scene.

### 2. unfamiliar

adjective · CEFR B1

not known or not experienced before.

For teachers: not previously known, seen, or experienced; alien to one's personal history or environment.

- It is difficult to find your way around a strange city without a map.
- Moving to a new country often involves a period of adjustment while you learn to navigate strange customs and social expectations.

### 3. quantum physics

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

a special property of some very small particles in physics.

For teachers: relating to a specific flavor of quark or the quantum property of strangeness.

- The scientist explained how a strange quark differs from other types of particles.
- In particle physics, the strange quark is the third lightest of all quarks and carries a charge of negative one-third.

### 4. mathematical attractors

adjective · CEFR C2 · Technical

a term used in math to describe a complex, repeating pattern.

For teachers: describing an attractor that has a fractal structure and exhibits chaotic dynamics.

- The computer model showed a strange attractor forming in the weather data.
- The system's long-term behavior is governed by a strange attractor, meaning that while the path is bounded, it never repeats the same state twice.

### 5. unfaithful sex

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Vulgar

sex with someone who is not your regular partner.

For teachers: sexual activity occurring outside of one's established romantic relationship.

- He was looking for some strange while his wife was away on business.
- The lyrics of the blues song often revolve around the protagonist's search for some strange as a way to escape his domestic troubles.

## Examples

- I heard a strange noise coming from the kitchen.
- It felt strange to be back in my old school after living abroad for ten years.
- The detective noted several strange inconsistencies in the witness's statement that suggested the events had not unfolded as originally reported.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.