From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishqueerqueer1 /kwɪə $ kwɪr/ adjective 1 tabooSYHOMOSEXUAL an offensive word used to describe someone who is homosexual, especially a man. Do not use this word.2 old-fashionedSTRANGE strange or difficult to explain She gave a queer laugh. Hank was beginning to feel a little queer.3 → queer in the head —queerly adverb Sue looked at him queerly.
Examples from the Corpus
queer• And she thought, with a queer aching, must we part again so soon?• There's been queer goings on with her and nursemaids.• It was queer, how well she still knew him.• Did you run across that queer sort Of legend about a wild goose?• a queer sound• Hand flying to mouth, she gave a queer, trembly laugh and looked at her children.• I mean, he's respected me in a queer way.queerqueer2 noun [countable] tabooSYHOMOSEXUAL an offensive word for a homosexual person, especially a man. Do not use this word.queerqueer3 verb → queer somebody’s pitch/queer the pitch for somebody→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
queer• It may also queer the pitch for health-care reforms, which will need big tax increases.Origin queer1 (1500-1600) Perhaps from German quer “going across” 