Collins English-English Dictionary

queer [kwɪə]

1. 1. adj differing from the normal or usual in a way regarded as odd or strange

2. 2. adj suspicious, dubious, or shady

3. 3. adj faint, giddy, or queasy

4. 4. adj [Spoken] [highly offensive ] homosexual

5. 5. adj [Spoken] odd or unbalanced mentally; eccentric or slightly mad

6. 6. adj [Slang] worthless or counterfeit

7. 7. n [Spoken] [highly offensive ] a homosexual, usually a male

8. 8. vt. [tr] [Spoken] to spoil or thwart (esp in the phrase queer someone's pitch)

9. 9. vt. to put in a difficult or dangerous position

10. 10. vt. [Etymology] C16: perhaps from German quer oblique, ultimately from Old High German twerh

11. 11. n [Usage] Although the term queer meaning homosexual is still considered highly offensive when used by non-homosexuals, it is often used by homosexuals themselves as a positive term, as in queer politics, queer cinema