smart
(smärt)
[Middle English, stinging, keen, alert, from Old English smeart, causing pain.]
adjective: smart·er, smart·est.
- Characterized by sharp quick thought; bright. See synonyms at intelligent
- Amusingly clever; witty: a smart quip; a lively, smart conversation.
- Impertinent; insolent: That's enough of your smart talk.
- Energetic or quick in movement: a smart pace.
- Canny and shrewd in dealings with others: a smart negotiator.
- Fashionable; elegant: a smart suit; a smart restaurant; the smart set. See synonyms at fashionable
- Capable of making adjustments that resemble human decisions, especially in response to changing circumstances: smart missiles.
- Manufactured to regulate the amount of light transmitted in response to varying light conditions or to an electronic sensor or control unit: smart windows.
- New England & Southern U.S. Accomplished; talented: He's a right smart ball player.
intransitive verb: smart·ed, smart·ing, smarts.
- To cause a sharp, usually superficial, stinging pain: The slap delivered to my face smarted.
- To be the location of such a pain: The incision on my leg smarts.
- To feel such a pain.
- To suffer acutely, as from mental distress, wounded feelings, or remorse: “No creature smarts so little as a fool” (Alexander Pope)
- To suffer or pay a heavy penalty.
noun
- Sharp mental or physical pain. See synonyms at pain
- Slang Intelligence; expertise: a reporter with a lot of smarts.
phrasal verbs
- smart off
- To speak or act impertinently.
idioms
- right smart
- A lot; a considerable amount: He did right smart of the work himself.
derivatives
- smart́ly
- adverb
- smart́ness
- noun
