skew

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   To form or shape in an oblique way

   To form or shape in an oblique way; to cause to take an oblique position.

   • Thus asynchronous torques cannot be avoided but can be reduced by proper choice of coil span and by skewing the stator or rotor slots.
2. 2

   To bias or distort in a particular direction.

   • A disproportionate number of female subjects in the study group skewed the results.
   • because of parliamentary rules written by the military after the 2014 coup that are skewed in its favour.
3. 3

   To hurl or throw.

4. ›+ 19 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      To move obliquely

      To move obliquely; to move sideways, to sidle; to lie obliquely.

      • Child, (ſays the Mother) You muſt Uſe your ſelf to Walk Streight, without Skewing, and Shailing ſo Every Step you ſet: Pray Mother (ſays the Young Crab) do but ſet the Example your ſelf, and I'll follow ye.
      • [T]he plaintiff's surveyor says, his line struck the house ten inches in the rear and fifteen inches in the front; and farther that the "house is a little skewing and is not set exactly square."
      • The upper sign corresponds to the case represented in the figure in which the arch skews to the right, and the lower one to the case in which it skews to the left.
   2. 5

      To jump back or sideways in fear or surprise

      To jump back or sideways in fear or surprise; to shy, as a horse.

   3. 6

      To look at obliquely

      To look at obliquely; to squint; hence, to look slightingly or suspiciously.

      • [C]an this durt draw us / To ſuch a ſtupid tameneſſe, that our ſervice / Neglected, and look'd lamely on, and skewd at / With a few honourable words, and this, is righted?
      • The cows stood round her in a wondering way, / And kept the stranger with her fears at bay; / They tost their heads and snuff'd the morning gales, / Skewing at her: [...]
   4. 7

      Neither parallel nor perpendicular to a certain line

      Neither parallel nor perpendicular to a certain line; askew.

      • a skew arch
   5. 8

      Of two lines in three-dimensional space

      Of two lines in three-dimensional space: neither intersecting nor parallel.

   6. 9

      Of a distribution

      Of a distribution: asymmetrical about its mean.

      • A slope value over 1 indicates that digits are skewer than the Benford condition in favor of low ones. A slope value less than 1 indicates that digits are less skewed as compared with the Benford condition.
      • The skewest possible distribution is that in which every but one target value has only one element and the other target value has all the other elements.
   7. 10

      Askew, obliquely

      Askew, obliquely; awry.

      • The walls are all united at one end into one head wall; which runs 14′ skew of the Pyramid on the W.; [...]
   8. 11

      Something that has an oblique or slanted position.

   9. 12

      An oblique or sideways movement.

   10. 13

       A squint or sidelong glance.

   11. 14

       A kind of wooden vane or cowl in a chimney which revolves according to the direction of…

       A kind of wooden vane or cowl in a chimney which revolves according to the direction of the wind and prevents smoking.

   12. 15

       A piece of rock lying in a slanting position and tapering upwards which overhangs a…

       A piece of rock lying in a slanting position and tapering upwards which overhangs a working-place in a mine and is liable to fall.

   13. 16

       A bias or distortion in a particular direction.

       • We now come to Whiston village and bridge, (7½ miles) and after passing under a wooden bridge, dash under one of 47 feet span, of stone and brick, with a remarkable skew.
   14. 17

       A phenomenon in synchronous digital circuit systems (such as computers) in which the same…

       A phenomenon in synchronous digital circuit systems (such as computers) in which the same sourced clock signal arrives at different components at different times.

       • Until recently, there has been a great reluctance to alter the clock network and attempt a nonzero-skew solution. However, recently, an increasing number of designers have been willing to utilize skews for performance enhancement.
   15. 18

       A state of asymmetry in a distribution

       A state of asymmetry in a distribution; skewness.

   16. 19

       A stone at the foot of the slope of a gable, the offset of a buttress, etc., cut with a…

       A stone at the foot of the slope of a gable, the offset of a buttress, etc., cut with a sloping surface and with a check to receive the coping stones and retain them in place; a skew-corbel.

       • How many yards of roofing and serking, in a Roof 45 feet, 8 in. long, from skew to skew; and 21 feet, 8 in. deep, from ridge to easing, including 9 inches for wall plates or double eave?
       • Skew, Skew-table: the term skew is still used in the north for a stone built into the bottom of a gable or other similar situation to support the coping above [...]
   17. 20

       The coping of a gable.

   18. 21

       One of the stones placed over the end of a gable, or forming the coping of a gable.

   19. 22

       A thick drizzling rain or driving mist.

       • I am in a regular Cornish skew as to the future, like that thou and I were favoured with when we astonished the natives at Sidmouth - can't see an inch before me.
       • ... the only bit of lewth I had When it came to a skew was a high bunch of kekezza, that' pon a gurgey grew.

The neighborhood

• synonymneither parallel nor perpendicular