regular

English

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 *reg- (“move in a straight line”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: regʹyo͝olər IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛɡ.jʊ.lə/
• (US) enPR: regʹyələr, regʹlər, IPA^(key): /ˈɹɛɡ.jə.lɚ/, /ˈɹɛɡ.l̩ɚ/, [ˈɹɛɡ.jɪ̈.lɚ], [ˈɹɛɡ.l̩ɚ]

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Rhymes: -ɛɡjʊlə(ɹ), -ɛɡjələ(ɹ), -ɛɡələ(ɹ)
• (US) Hyphenation: reg‧u‧lar

Adjective

regular (comparative more regular, superlative most regular)

1. (Christianity) Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular). [from 14th c.]

   regular clergy, in distinction from the secular clergy

   • 2002, Jones, Colin, The Great Nation, Penguin, published 2003, page 201:

     A quarter of a million strong in 1680, the clergy was only half as large in 1789. The unpopular regular clergy were the worst affected.

   • Christianity definition

     An Abrahamic religion originating from the community of the followers of Jesus Christ.

   • Religious definition

     Concerning religion. (1 of 3 religious definitions)

   • Order definition

     Arrangement, disposition, or sequence. (1 of 26 order definitions)

   • Secular definition

     Not specifically religious; lay or civil, as opposed to clerical. (1 of 8 secular definitions)
2. Having a constant pattern; showing evenness of form or appearance. [from 15th c.]

   Synonyms: equable, uniform, unvarying; see also Thesaurus:steady

   Antonyms: chaotic, irregular; see also Thesaurus:unsteady

   • Pattern definition

     Model, example.

     1. Something from which a copy is made; a model or outline.
     2. Someone or something seen as an example to be imitated; an exemplar.
     3. A copy.
     4. A sample; of coins, an example which was struck but never minted.
     5. A representative example.
     6. The material needed to make a piece of clothing.
     7. The paper or cardboard template from which the parts of a garment are traced onto fabric prior to cutting out and assembling.
     8. A full-sized model around which a mould of sand is made, to receive the melted metal. It is usually made of wood and in several parts, so as to be removed from the mould without damage.
     9. A text string containing wildcards, used for matching. (1 of 17 pattern definitions)

   • Evenness definition

     The quality of being even (flat or close in numbers).

   • Equable definition

     Unvarying, calm and steady; constant and uniform. (1 of 3 equable definitions)

   • Uniform definition

     Unvarying; all the same. (1 of 5 uniform definitions)

   • Unvarying definition

     persistent, constant, changeless (1 of 2 unvarying definitions)

   • Chaotic definition

     filled with chaos. (1 of 4 chaotic definitions)

   • Irregular definition

     nonstandard; not conforming to rules or expectations (1 of 6 irregular definitions)
3. (geometry, of a polygon) Both equilateral and equiangular; having all sides of the same length, and all (corresponding) angles of the same size [from 16th c.]

   • Geometry definition

     The branch of mathematics dealing with spatial relationships. (1 of 4 geometry definitions)

   • Polygon definition

     A plane figure bounded by edges that are all straight lines. (1 of 4 polygon definitions)

   • Equilateral definition

     Having all the sides equal. (1 of 4 equilateral definitions)

   • Equiangular definition

     Of a polygon, having all interior angles equal. This is not necessarily a regular polygon, since that would also be equilateral; a rectangle is equiangular but not equilateral, unless it is a square.
4. (geometry, of a polyhedron) Whose faces are all congruent regular polygons, equally inclined to each other.

   • Polyhedron definition

     A solid figure with many flat faces and straight edges. (1 of 2 polyhedron definitions)

   • Face definition

     The front part of the head of a human or other animal, featuring the eyes, nose and mouth, and the surrounding area. (1 of 27 face definitions)
5. Demonstrating a consistent set of rules; showing order, evenness of operation or occurrence. [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: in order, ruly, tidy; see also Thesaurus:orderly

   Antonyms: chaotic, tumultuous; see also Thesaurus:disorderly

   • 2011 April 12, Kennedy, A[lison] L[ouise], The Guardian:

     April may be the cruellest month, but I am planning to render it civilised and to take my antibiotics in a regular manner.

   • Rule definition

     A regulation, law, guideline. (1 of 10 rule definitions)

   • In Order definition

     In a sequence. (1 of 4 in order definitions)

   • Ruly definition

     Pitiable; miserable.

   • Tidy definition

     Arranged neatly and in order. (1 of 7 tidy definitions)

   • Tumultuous definition

     Characterized by loud, confused noise. (1 of 2 tumultuous definitions)
6. (astronomy) Of a moon or other satellite: following a relatively close and prograde orbit with little inclination or eccentricity.

   • Astronomy definition

     The study of the physical universe beyond the Earth's atmosphere, including the process of mapping locations and properties of the matter and radiation in the universe. (1 of 2 astronomy definitions)

   • Moon definition

     (1 of 2 moon definitions)

   • Satellite definition

     A moon or other smaller body orbiting a larger one. (1 of 6 satellite definitions)

   • Prograde definition

     Moving in a forward direction, especially with respect to other bodies in the same system. (1 of 2 prograde definitions)

   • Orbit definition

     A circular or elliptical path of a celestial object or spacecraft around a star, planet, moon, or Lagrange point, especially a periodic elliptical revolution. (1 of 11 orbit definitions)

   • Inclination definition

     A physical tilt or bend. (1 of 6 inclination definitions)

   • Eccentricity definition

     The quality of being eccentric or odd; any eccentric behaviour. (1 of 3 eccentricity definitions)
7. (now rare) Well-behaved, orderly; restrained (of a lifestyle etc.). [from 16th c.]

   Synonyms: decent, seemly, well-mannered

   Antonyms: degenerate, irregular

   • Well-Behaved definition

     Having good manners and acting properly; conforming to standards of good behaviour. (1 of 2 well-behaved definitions)

   • Orderly definition

     Neat and tidy; possessing order. (1 of 4 orderly definitions)

   • Restrained definition

     Held back, limited, kept in check or under control.

   • Decent definition

     Appropriate; suitable for the circumstances. (1 of 7 decent definitions)

   • Seemly definition

     Appropriate; suited to the occasion or purpose; becoming.

   • Well-Mannered definition

     Having good manners; polite, courteous, and socially correct; conforming to standards of good behaviour.

   • Degenerate definition

     Having deteriorated, degraded or fallen from normal, coherent, balanced and desirable to undesirable and typically abnormal; an immoral or corrupt person. (1 of 5 degenerate definitions)
8. Happening at constant (especially short) intervals. [from 17th c.]

   Synonyms: cyclical, frequent; see also Thesaurus:periodic

   Antonyms: irregular, noncyclic

   He made regular visits to go see his mother.

   • Interval definition

     A distance in space. (1 of 7 interval definitions)

   • Cyclical definition

     recurring at regular intervals

   • Frequent definition

     Done or occurring often; common. (1 of 6 frequent definitions)

   • Noncyclic definition

     Not cyclic.
9. (grammar, of a verb, plural, etc) Following a set or common pattern; according to the normal rules of a given language. [from 17th c.]

   Synonym: (verbs) weak

   Antonyms: irregular, (verbs) strong

   "Walked" is the past tense of the regular verb "to walk".

   • Grammar definition

     A system of rules and principles for speaking and writing a language. (1 of 9 grammar definitions)

   • Weak definition

     Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability. (1 of 18 weak definitions)

   • Strong definition

     Capable of producing great physical force. (1 of 19 strong definitions)
10. (chiefly US) Having the expected characteristics or appearances; normal, ordinary, standard. [from 17th c.]

    Synonyms: basic, common, unremarkable; see also Thesaurus:normal, Thesaurus:common

    Antonyms: irregular, outlandish, weird; see also Thesaurus:strange

    • 1913, Lincoln, Joseph C[rosby], chapter 1, in Mr. Pratt's Patients:

      For a spell we done pretty well. Then there came a reg'lar terror of a sou'wester same as you don't get one summer in a thousand, and blowed the shanty flat and ripped about half of the weir poles out of the sand.

    • Normal definition

      According to norms or rules or to a regular pattern. (1 of 21 normal definitions)

    • Ordinary definition

      A person with authority; authority, ordinance.

      1. A person having immediate jurisdiction in a given case of ecclesiastical law, such as the bishop within a diocese.
      2. A devotional manual; a book setting our rules for proper conduct.
      3. A courier; someone delivering mail or post.
      4. A rule, or book of rules, prescribing the order of service, especially of Mass.
      5. A judge with the authority to deal with cases himself or herself rather than by delegation.
      6. The chaplain of Newgate prison, who prepared condemned prisoners for death.

      (1 of 16 ordinary definitions)

    • Standard definition

      Falling within an accepted range of size, amount, power, quality, etc. (1 of 7 standard definitions)

    • Basic definition

      Necessary, essential for life or some process. (1 of 4 basic definitions)

    • Common definition

      Mutual; shared by more than one. (1 of 9 common definitions)

    • Unremarkable definition

      Not remarkable.

    • Outlandish definition

      Bizarre; strange. (1 of 2 outlandish definitions)

    • Weird definition

      Having an unusually strange character or behaviour. (1 of 6 weird definitions)
11. (chiefly military) Permanently organised; being part of a set professional body of troops. [from 17th c.]

    Antonym: irregular

    • Military definition

      Characteristic of members of the armed forces. (1 of 4 military definitions)
12. Having bowel movements or menstrual periods at constant intervals in the expected way. [from 18th c.]

    Maintaining a high-fibre diet keeps you regular.

    • 2015, Bryson, Bill, The Road to Little Dribbling: More Notes from a Small Island, page 206:

      Gulls cawed and wheeled overhead, dropping splatty white cluster bombs on rooftops and pavements. Goodness knows what those gulls eat, but it certainly keeps them regular.

    • Bowel Movements definition

      plural of bowel movement

    • Period definition

      A length of time. (1 of 21 period definitions)
13. (colloquial) Exemplary; excellent example of; utter, downright. [from 18th c.]

    Synonyms: absolute, thorough, unalloyed; see also Thesaurus:total

    a regular genius; a regular John Bull

    • 1997 February 16, Ron Hauge, Homer's Phobia (The Simpsons), season 8, episode 15, spoken by Homer Simpson (Dan Castellaneta):

      Don't worry, boy. We're gonna set you straight. By tomorrow morning, you'll be a regular Burt Reynolds.

    • Exemplary definition

      Deserving honour, respect and admiration. (1 of 4 exemplary definitions)

    • Example definition

      Something that is representative of all such things in a group. (1 of 6 example definitions)

    • Utter definition

      Outer; furthest out, most remote. (1 of 3 utter definitions)

    • Downright definition

      Directed vertically; coming straight down. (1 of 4 downright definitions)

    • Absolute definition

      Free of restrictions, limitations, qualifications or conditions; unconditional.

      1. Unrestricted by laws, a constitution, or parliamentary or judicial or other checks; (legally) unlimited in power, especially if despotic.
         1. Characteristic of an absolutist ruler: domineering, peremptory.

      (1 of 25 absolute definitions)

    • Thorough definition

      Painstaking and careful not to miss or omit any detail. (1 of 2 thorough definitions)

    • Unalloyed definition

      Not alloyed; not in mixture with other metals; pure. (1 of 2 unalloyed definitions)
14. (botany, zoology) Having all the parts of the same kind alike in size and shape.

    a regular flower; a regular sea urchin

    • Botany definition

      The scientific study of plants, a branch of biology. Typically those disciplines that involve the whole plant. (1 of 4 botany definitions)

    • Zoology definition

      The part of biology relating to the animal kingdom, including the structure, embryology, evolution, classification, habits, and distribution of all animals, both living and extinct. (1 of 2 zoology definitions)
15. (crystallography) Isometric.

    • Crystallography definition

      The experimental science of determining the arrangement of atoms in solids. (1 of 2 crystallography definitions)

    • Isometric definition

      Of, or exhibiting equality in dimensions. (1 of 4 isometric definitions)
16. (snowboarding) Riding with the left foot forward.

    Antonym: goofy

    • Snowboarding definition

      The sport of sliding downhill on a snowboard.

    • Left definition

      Designating the side of the body toward the west when one is facing north; the opposite of right. (1 of 2 left definitions)

    • Goofy definition

      silly, quirky
17. (mathematical analysis, not comparable, of a Borel measure) Such that every set in its domain is both outer regular and inner regular.

    • Mathematical Analysis definition

      The mathematical study of functions, sequences, series, limits, derivatives and integrals.

    • Domain definition

      A geographic area owned or controlled by a single person or organization. (1 of 16 domain definitions)

    • Outer Regular definition

      That its measure is equal to the infimum of the measures of all open sets which contain it.

    • Inner Regular definition

      Whose measure is equal to the supremum of the measures of all compact sets which are contained by it.

Antonyms

• irregular
• non-regular, nonregular

Coordinate terms

• (snowboarding): switch

Related terms

Translations

Adverb

regular (not comparable)

1. (archaic, dialect, nonstandard) Regularly, on a regular basis.
   • 1861, George Eliot, Silas Marner, London: Penguin Books, published 1967, page 131:

     'And if the knowledge wasn'y well come by, why, you might ha' made up for it by coming to church reg'lar.'

   • 1902, John Buchan, The Outgoing of the Tide

     Though no minister would visit the Skerburnfoot, or, if he went, departed quicker than he came, the girl Ailie attended regular at the catechising at the mains of Sker.

   • 1961, Colin Thiele, The Sun on the Stubble, Melbourne: Rigby Limited, page 113:

     "Drain her every thousand, regular. Don't do it myself, o' course; just drop her in at the lubritorium."

   • 1988, Mary Steele, Mallyroot's Pub at Misery Ponds, Ringwood: Puffin Books, page 37:

     "All we've got to do is stick 'em in the bedroom and feed 'em regular."

   • Regularly definition

     With constant frequency or pattern. (1 of 2 regularly definitions)

Noun

regular (plural regulars)

1. A member of the British Army (as opposed to a member of the Territorial Army or Reserve).

   • Territorial Army definition

     A reserve force of the British Army, made up of part-time soldiers.

   • Reserve definition

     Restriction.

     1. The act of reserving or keeping back; reservation; exception. (1 of 18 reserve definitions)
2. A frequent, routine visitor to an establishment.

   Bartenders usually know their regulars by name.

   • Routine definition

     A course of action to be followed regularly; a standard procedure. (1 of 4 routine definitions)
3. A member of an armed forces or police force.
4. A frequent customer, client or business partner.

   This gentleman was one of the architect's regulars.

   • Customer definition

     A patron, a client; one who purchases or receives a product or service from a business or merchant, or intends to do so. (1 of 3 customer definitions)

   • Client definition

     A customer, a buyer or receiver of goods or services. (1 of 5 client definitions)

   • Business definition

     A specific commercial enterprise or establishment. (1 of 17 business definitions)

   • Partner definition

     One of each halves of a pair of someone or something that belongs together. (1 of 8 partner definitions)
5. (Canada) A coffee with one cream and one sugar.
6. Anything that is normal or standard.
   • 2011, Jamie MacLennan, ZhaoHui Tang, Bogdan Crivat, Data Mining with Microsoft SQL Server 2008

     You separate the marbles by color until you have four groups, but then you notice that some of the marbles are regulars, some are shooters, and some are peewees.

7. A member of a religious order who has taken the three ordinary vows.
8. A number for each year, giving, added to the concurrents, the number of the day of the week on which the Paschal full moon falls.

   • Concurrent definition

     Happening at the same time; simultaneous. (1 of 7 concurrent definitions)

   • Paschal definition

     Of or pertaining to Easter. (1 of 2 Paschal definitions)

   • Full Moon definition

     The phase of the moon when it is in opposition to the sun and its full disc is therefore visible. (1 of 2 full moon definitions)
9. A fixed number for each month serving to ascertain the day of the week, or the age of the moon, on the first day of any month.

Synonyms

• (routine visitor): frequenter, habitué, patron, usual suspects

Antonyms

• non-regular, nonregular

Translations

References

• regular in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• regular in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

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Asturian

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Late Latin rēgulāris.

Adjective

regular (epicene, plural regulares)

1. regular

   • Regular definition

     Bound by religious rule; belonging to a monastic or religious order (often as opposed to secular). (1 of 17 regular definitions)
2. fine, OK, average

   • Fine definition

     Senses referring to subjective quality.

     1. Of superior quality. (1 of 17 fine definitions)

   • Ok definition

     Endorsement; approval.

   • Average definition

     The arithmetic mean. (1 of 7 average definitions)

Related terms

• regularidá

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin rēgulāre, present active infinitive of rēgulō. Compare the doublet reglar, borrowed earlier from the same source.

Verb

regular (first-person singular indicative present regulo, past participle reguláu)

1. to regulate

   • Regulate definition

     To dictate policy. (1 of 5 regulate definitions)

Conjugation

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Catalan

Pronunciation

• (Balearic, Central) IPA^(key): /rə.ɡuˈla/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /re.ɡuˈlaɾ/
• Rhymes: -a(ɾ)

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Late Latin rēgulāris.

Adjective

regular (masculine and feminine plural regulars)

1. regular (having a constant pattern)

   Antonym: irregular

2. normal, average
3. (geometry) regular (both equilateral and equiangular)

   Antonym: irregular

Derived terms

• regularitat
• regularitzar
• regularment

Related terms

• irregular
• regla

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin rēgulāre, present active infinitive of rēgulō.

Verb

regular (first-person singular present regulo, past participle regulat)

1. (transitive) to regulate

Conjugation

Derived terms

• regulador

Related terms

• regulació

Further reading

• “regular” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.
• “regular”, in Gran Diccionari de la Llengua Catalana, Grup Enciclopèdia Catalana, 2022
• “regular” in Diccionari normatiu valencià, Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua.
• “regular” in Diccionari català-valencià-balear, Antoni Maria Alcover and Francesc de Borja Moll, 1962.

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Galician

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [reɣuˈlaɾ]

Etymology 1

Attested since circa 1300. Borrowed from Late Latin rēgulāris.

Adjective

regular m or f (plural regulares)

1. regular
2. average

Derived terms

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin rēgulō.

Verb

regular (first-person singular present regulo, first-person singular preterite regulei, past participle regulado)

1. to regulate
2. to tune (an engine)

   • Tune definition

     A melody. (1 of 7 tune definitions)

Conjugation

References

• “regular” in Dicionario de Dicionarios do galego medieval, SLI - ILGA 2006–2022.
• “regular” in Xavier Varela Barreiro & Xavier Gómez Guinovart: Corpus Xelmírez - Corpus lingüístico da Galicia medieval. SLI / Grupo TALG / ILG, 2006–2018.
• “regular” in Dicionario de Dicionarios da lingua galega, SLI - ILGA 2006–2013.
• “regular” in Tesouro informatizado da lingua galega. Santiago: ILG.
• “regular” in Álvarez, Rosario (coord.): Tesouro do léxico patrimonial galego e portugués, Santiago de Compostela: Instituto da Lingua Galega.

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Portuguese

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: re‧gu‧lar

Etymology 1

Learned borrowing from Late Latin rēgulāris.

Adjective

regular m or f (plural regulares, comparable)

1. regular
2. average

Declension

Derived terms

• irregular
• regularmente

Etymology 2

Learned borrowing from Latin rēgulāre. Compare the doublet regrar, borrowed earlier from the same source.

Verb

regular (first-person singular present indicative regulo, past participle regulado)

1. to regulate
2. to tune (an engine)
3. to set (a watch, clock)

   • Set definition

     To put (something) down, to rest. (1 of 45 set definitions)

Conjugation

Related terms

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Spanish

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /reɡuˈlaɾ/, [re.ɣ̞uˈlaɾ]

Etymology 1

Borrowed from Late Latin rēgulāris.

Adjective

regular (plural regulares)

1. regular, steady, even

   • Steady definition

     Firm in standing or position; not tottering or shaking; fixed; firm. (1 of 5 steady definitions)

   • Even definition

     Flat and level. (1 of 10 even definitions)
2. fair, fairly good, average

   • Fair definition

     (1 of 26 fair definitions)

   • Fairly definition

     In a fair manner; fair; not biased or skewed or favouring a certain party (1 of 7 fairly definitions)
3. common, ordinary, middling, so-so

   • Middling definition

     Of intermediate or average size, position, or quality; mediocre. (1 of 2 middling definitions)

   • So-So definition

     Neither good nor bad; tolerable, passable, indifferent.
4. (grammar) regular

Derived terms

• regularmente
• verbo regular

Etymology 2

Borrowed from Latin rēgulāre, present active infinitive of rēgulō.

Verb

regular (first-person singular present regulo, first-person singular preterite regulé, past participle regulado)

1. to regulate
2. to control

   • Control definition

     To exercise influence over; to suggest or dictate the behavior of. (1 of 5 control definitions)
3. to adjust

   • Adjust definition

     To modify. (1 of 4 adjust definitions)
4. to put in order

   • Put definition

     To place something somewhere. (1 of 12 put definitions)

Conjugation

Related terms

Further reading

• “regular”, in Diccionario de la lengua española, Vigésima tercera edición, Real Academia Española, 2014

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Tagalog

Etymology

Borrowed from Spanish regular.

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: re‧gu‧lar
• IPA^(key): /ɾeɡuˈlaɾ/, [ɾe.ɣʊˈlaɾ]

Adjective

regulár

1. regular; usual; ordinary

   Synonyms: karaniwan, pangkaraniwan

   • Usual definition

     Most commonly occurring; typical.

   • Pangkaraniwan definition

     common; ordinary
2. habitual; steady; permanent

   Synonyms: pirmihan, palagian

   • Habitual definition

     Of or relating to a habit; established as a habit; performed over and over again; recurrent, recurring. (1 of 4 habitual definitions)

   • Permanent definition

     Without end, eternal. (1 of 2 permanent definitions)
3. uniform; not changing

   • Changing definition

     present participle of change
4. customary; usual

   Synonyms: katamtaman, kainaman

   • Customary definition

     A book containing laws and usages, or customs; a custumal.

Derived terms

Related terms

• regulasyon
• regulador
• regularidad