What does UNIQUE mean? - The English Definition

11,170 views ・ 2021-07-01

English Addict with Mr Duncan


Please double-click on the English subtitles below to play the video.

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You know the world of English is a fun and exciting place to be
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I'm so glad you could join us for another lesson
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Today we are going to look at a very small word.
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A very short word.
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A word you might hear used from time to time.
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It is a special word that means
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something that can't be found everywhere.
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Something that is very unusual.
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Perhaps something that is incredibly rare.
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Today we will take a look at the word...
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unique
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Derived from the Latin word for ‘one’, the word ‘unique’ is an adjective that defines something that is one of a kind
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or unlike anything else.
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In mathematics the word ‘unique’ is defined as an absolute. That is to say it cannot be measured in degrees.
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It is either unique or not unique.
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However, this rule is not so relevant in everyday use.
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So it is not unusual to hear words such as ‘very’ or ‘quite’ used as modifiers.
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You might say that the use of ‘unique’
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is not necessarily used in a unique way.
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A special thing that cannot be found in large quantities might be described as unique.
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You might describe one thing in a group as being unique.
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This means that it is rarely seen or does not normally exist in that particular situation.
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A certain type of flower in a garden might appear unique, if its characteristics are different from all the other plants surrounding it.
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A unique moment of time might occur more than once over a long period of time.
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A singer might have a unique voice.
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They are able to reach notes that most other singers cannot.
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So a rare thing might be described as ‘quite unique’ or ‘very unique’.
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A unique thing might be expressed as being ‘one in a million’.
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An opportunity or chance to do something that may change your life in a positive way
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can be described as a ‘unique’ opportunity.
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To have an unusual ability that may have not been seen before is unique.
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To stand out from the rest is to be unique.
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A unique thing can be described as a ‘one off’ ‘One in a million’ ‘outstanding’ ‘one of a kind’.
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When describing something unique; a person might say that ‘they broke the mould when they made that’.
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This phrase expresses the total uniqueness of an individual thing or person.
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It is a one off.
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It will never be created again. It is outstanding.
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The thing or person being discussed is unique.
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Do you have something or know someone who could be described as unique?
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Do you have something that only exists where you are?
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Perhaps it is a piece of jewellery, or maybe a friend who is like no other.
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Let me know in the comment section below this video if you do.
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This is Mr Duncan in the birthplace of English saying...
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see you soon and of course...
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ta ta for now.
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