Definitions for QUEER

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

queer^*kwɪər(adj.; v.; n.)queer•er, queer•est

(adj.)strange or odd from a conventional viewpoint; unusually different; eccentric.
of a questionable nature or character; suspicious; shady:
something queer in the wording of the document.
not physically right or well; giddy, faint, or qualmish.
mentally unbalanced or deranged.
Slang: Usu. Disparaging and Offensive. homosexual. effeminate.
Category: Psychiatry, Status (usage)
Slang. bad, worthless, or counterfeit.
Category: Status (usage)
(v.t.)to spoil; ruin.
to put (a person) in a disadvantageous situation as to success, favor, etc.
(n.)Slang: Usually Disparaging and Offensive.(a term used to refer to a homosexual, esp. a male.)
Category: Psychiatry, Status (usage)

^* Usage: queer has been used as an adjective and noun meaning respectively “homosexual” and “a homosexual” since the 1920s, and for much of the time has been used in a disparaging manner. Since about 1990 the word has increasingly been adopted as a preferred term by young or radical homosexuals and in the academic community. In the mainstream homosexual community, however, gay and lesbian remain the terms of choice.

Origin of queer:

1500–10; perh. < G quer oblique, cross, adverse

queer′ness(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

curious, funny, odd, peculiar, queer, rum, rummy, singular(adj)
beyond or deviating from the usual or expected
"a curious hybrid accent"; "her speech has a funny twang"; "they have some funny ideas about war"; "had an odd name"; "the peculiar aromatic odor of cloves"; "something definitely queer about this town"; "what a rum fellow"; "singular behavior"
gay, queer, homophile(a)(verb)
homosexual or arousing homosexual desires
thwart, queer, spoil, scotch, foil, cross, frustrate, baffle, bilk(verb)
hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
"What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge"; "foil your opponent"
queer, expose, scupper, endanger, peril(verb)
put in a dangerous, disadvantageous, or difficult position

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

queer(adjective)ɪər
homosexual
***I think he's queer.
queerɪər
strange or unusual
***a queer situation
queer(noun)ɪər
***a homosexual person
***He's a queer.

Wiktionary

queer(Noun)
A person who is or appears homosexual, or who has homosexual qualities.
queer(Noun)
A person of atypical sexuality or sexual identity.
queer(Noun)
General term of abuse, casting aspersions on target's sexuality; compare gay.
queer(Noun)
Counterfeit money.
queer(Verb)
To render an endeavor or agreement ineffective or null.
queer(Verb)
To reevaluate or reinterpret a work with an eye to sexual orientation and/or to gender, as by applying queer theory.
queer(Adverb)
queerly
queer(Adjective)
(somewhat old-fashioned) weird, odd or different.
queer(Adjective)
(somewhat old-fashioned) slightly unwell (mainly in to feel queer).
queer(Adjective)
homosexual.
queer(Adjective)
having to do with homosexuality, bisexuality, transgenderism etc.

Webster Dictionary

Queer(adj)
at variance with what is usual or normal; differing in some odd way from what is ordinary; odd; singular; strange; whimsical; as, a queer story or act
Queer(adj)
mysterious; suspicious; questionable; as, a queer transaction
Queer(noun)
counterfeit money