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regularity

 - 5 dictionary results

reg⋅u⋅lar

[reg-yuh-ler]
–adjective
1. usual; normal; customary: to put something in its regular place.
2. evenly or uniformly arranged; symmetrical: regular teeth.
3. characterized by fixed principle, uniform procedure, etc.: regular income.
4. recurring at fixed times; periodic: regular bus departures; regular meals.
5. rhythmical: regular breathing.
6. occurring with normal frequency, as menses or bowel movements.
7. having regular menses or bowel movements.
8. adhering to a rule or procedure; methodical: regular habits; to be regular in one's diet.
9. observing fixed times or habits; habitual: a regular customer.
10. orderly; well-ordered: a regular life.
11. conforming to some accepted rule, discipline, etc.
12. carried out in accordance with an accepted principle or rule; formally correct: a regular session of the court.
13. qualified to engage in an occupation or profession; legitimate; proper: I suspected the man wasn't a regular doctor.
14. Informal.
a. real or genuine; down-to-earth; decent: a regular guy.
b. absolute; thoroughgoing: a regular rascal.
15. (of a flower) having the members of each of its floral circles or whorls alike in form and size.
16. Grammar. conforming to the most prevalent pattern of formation, inflection, construction, etc.
17. Mathematics.
a. governed by one law throughout.
b. (of a polygon) having all sides and angles equal.
c. (of a polyhedron) having all faces congruent regular polygons, and all solid angles congruent.
d. (of a topological space) having the property that, corresponding to each point and a closed set not containing the point, there are two disjoint open sets, one containing the point, the other containing the closed set.
e. (of a function of a complex variable) analytic (def. 5a).
18. Military. noting or belonging to the permanently organized, or standing, army of a state.
19. International Law. noting soldiers recognized as legitimate combatants in warfare.
20. Ecclesiastical. subject to a religious rule, or belonging to a religious or monastic order (opposed to secular ): regular clergy.
21. U.S. Politics. of, pertaining to, or selected by the recognized agents of a political party: the regular ticket.
22. (of coffee) containing an average amount of milk or cream.
–noun
23. a long-standing or habitual customer or client: The restaurant can always find tables for its regulars.
24. Ecclesiastical. a member of a duly constituted religious order under a rule.
25. Military. a professional soldier.
26. U.S. Politics. a party member who faithfully stands by his or her party.
27. a size of garment designed for men of average build.
28. a garment, as a suit or overcoat, in this size.
29. an athlete who plays in most of the games, usually from the start.

Origin:
1350–1400; ME reguler (adj.) < MF < LL rēgulāris. See regula, -ar 1


reg⋅u⋅lar⋅i⋅ty [reg-yuh-lar-i-tee] , reg⋅u⋅lar⋅ness, noun


2. even, formal, orderly, uniform. 4. habitual, established, fixed. 8. systematic.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To regularity
reg·u·lar   (rěg'yə-lər)   
adj.  
  1. Customary, usual, or normal: the train's regular schedule.

  2. Orderly, even, or symmetrical: regular teeth.

  3. In conformity with a fixed procedure, principle, or discipline.

  4. Well-ordered; methodical: regular habits.

  5. Occurring at fixed intervals; periodic: regular payments.

    1. Occurring with normal or healthy frequency.

    2. Having bowel movements or menstrual periods with normal or healthy frequency.

    3. Having equal sides and equal angles. Used of polygons.

    4. Having faces that are congruent regular polygons and congruent polyhedral angles. Used of polyhedrons.

  6. Not varying; constant.

  7. Formally correct; proper.

  8. Having the required qualifications for an occupation: not a regular lawyer.

  9. Informal Complete; thorough: a regular scoundrel.

  10. Informal Good; nice: a regular guy.

  11. Botany Having symmetrically arranged parts of similar size and shape: regular flowers.

  12. Grammar Conforming to the usual pattern of inflection, derivation, or word formation.

  13. Ecclesiastical Belonging to a religious order and bound by its rules: the regular clergy.

  14. Mathematics

    1. Having equal sides and equal angles. Used of polygons.

    2. Having faces that are congruent regular polygons and congruent polyhedral angles. Used of polyhedrons.

  15. Belonging to or constituting the permanent army of a nation.

n.  
  1. Ecclesiastical A member of the clergy or of a religious order.

  2. A soldier belonging to a regular army.

  3. A dependable loyal person: one of the party regulars.

  4. A clothing size designed for persons of average height.

  5. A habitual customer.


[Middle English reguler, living under religious rule, from Old French, from Late Latin rēgulāris, according to rule, from Latin rēgula, rod, rule; see reg- in Indo-European roots.]
reg'u·lar'i·ty (-lār'ĭ-tē) n., reg'u·lar·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

regular 
1387, from O.Fr. reguler, from L.L. regularis "continuing rules for guidance," from L. regula "rule," from PIE *reg- "move in a straight line" (see regent). Earliest sense was of religious orders (the opposite of secular). Extended 16c. to shapes, etc., that followed predictable or uniform patterns; sense of "normal" is from 1638; meaning "real, genuine" is from 1821. Meaning "a regular customer" is recorded from 1852.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: reg·u·lar
Pronunciation: 'reg-y&-l&r
Function: adjective
1 : having or constituting an isometric system<regular crystals>
2 : conforming to what is usual or normal: as a : recurring or functioning at fixed or normal intervals <regular bowelmovements> b : having menstrual periods or bowel movements at normal intervals regular woman may have her cycle go completely awry from time to time—A. F. Guttmacher & Joan Gould> —reg·u·lar·ly adverb

Main Entry: reg·u·lar·i·ty
Pronunciation: "reg-y&-'lar-&t-E
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -ties
: the quality or state of being regular (as in bowel habits) regularity —Russell Baker>
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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