regular
UK /ˈɹɛɡjʊlə/ · US /ˈɹɛɡjəlɚ/ adjective, adverb, noun
Forms regulars reg'lar reg reg.
- adjective (Christianity) Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular). “regular clergy, in distinction from the secular clergy”
- adjective Having a constant pattern; showing evenness of form or appearance.
- adjective (geometry, of a polygon) Both equilateral and equiangular; having all sides of the same length, and all (corresponding) angles of the same size
- adjective (geometry, of a polyhedron) Whose faces are all congruent regular polygons, equally inclined to each other.
- adjective Demonstrating a consistent set of rules; showing order, evenness of operation or occurrence.
- adjective (astronomy) Of a moon or other satellite: following a relatively close and prograde orbit with little inclination or eccentricity.
- adjective (now rare) Well-behaved, orderly; restrained (of a lifestyle etc.).
- adjective Happening at constant (especially short) intervals. “He made regular visits to go see his mother.”
- adverb (archaic, dialect, nonstandard) Regularly, on a regular basis.
- noun A member of the British Army (as opposed to a member of the Territorial Army or Reserve).
- noun A frequent, routine visitor to an establishment. “Bartenders usually know their regulars by name.”
- noun A member of the armed forces or police force.
- noun (Singapore) Synonym of regular serviceman; a member of the Singapore Armed Forces, Police Force or Civil Defence Force who has signed on, i.e., chosen to work full-time beyond their required length of national service.
- noun A frequent customer, client or business partner. “This gentleman was one of the architect's regulars.”
- noun (television) A character who appears in every episode of a TV series; a member of the regular cast.
- noun (Canada) A coffee with one cream and one sugar.
- noun Anything that is normal or standard.
Synonyms
equable uniform unvarying consistent equal even even-keeled monotonous samely stable steady uncheckered unvaried in order ruly tidy all Sir Garnet Bristol fashion and shipshape neat neat and tidy habitue fixture veritable unconstipated
Antonyms
chaotic irregular erratic fluid instable random rocky unstable unsteady variable varying tumultuous
Etymology
From Middle English reguler, from Anglo-Norman reguler, Middle French reguler, regulier, and their source, Latin rēgulāris (“continuing rules for guidance”), from rēgula (“rule”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *h₃reǵ- (“move in a straight line”).
Webster’s 1913
- adjective Conformed to a rule; agreeable to an established rule, law, principle, or type, or to established customary forms; normal; symmetrical; as, a regular verse in poetry; a regular piece of music; a regular verb; regular practice of law or medicine; a regular building.
- adjective Governed by rule or rules; steady or uniform in course, practice, or occurence; not subject to unexplained or irrational variation; returning at stated intervals; steadily pursued; orderlly; methodical; as, the regular succession of day and night; regular habits.
- noun A member of any religious order or community who has taken the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, and who has been solemnly recognized by the church. Bp. Fitzpatrick.
- noun A soldier belonging to a permanent or standing army; --chiefly used in the plural.
Etymology [L. regularis, fr. regula a rule, fr. regere to guide, to rule: cf. F. régulier. See Rule.]
Etymology [LL. regularis: cf. F. régulier. See Regular, a.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “regular”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details