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Smarter - 2 dictionary results

smart

  [smahrt] verb, adjective, -er, -est, adverb, noun
Use Smarter in a Sentence
–verb (used without object)
1. to be a source of sharp, local, and usually superficial pain, as a wound.
2. to be the cause of a sharp, stinging pain, as an irritating application, a blow, etc.
3. to feel a sharp, stinging pain, as in a wound.
4. to suffer keenly from wounded feelings: She smarted under their criticism.
5. to feel shame or remorse or to suffer in punishment or in return for something.
–verb (used with object)
6. to cause a sharp pain to or in.
–adjective
7. quick or prompt in action, as persons.
8. having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability: a smart student.
9. shrewd or sharp, as a person in dealing with others or as in business dealings: a smart businessman.
10. clever, witty, or readily effective, as a speaker, speech, rejoinder, etc.
11. dashingly or impressively neat or trim in appearance, as persons, dress, etc.
12. socially elegant; sophisticated or fashionable: the smart crowd.
13. saucy; pert: smart remarks.
14. sharply brisk, vigorous, or active: to walk with smart steps.
15. sharply severe, as a blow, stroke, etc.
16. sharp or keen: a smart pain.
17. Informal. equipped with, using, or containing electronic control devices, as computer systems, microprocessors, or missiles: a smart phone; a smart copier.
18. Computers. intelligent (def. 4).
19. Older Use. considerable; fairly large.
–adverb
20. in a smart manner; smartly.
–noun
21. a sharp local pain, usually superficial, as from a wound, blow, or sting.
22. keen mental suffering, as from wounded feelings, affliction, grievous loss, etc.
23. smarts, Slang. intelligence; common sense: He never had the smarts to use his opportunities.
Origin:
bef. 1050; (v.) ME smerten, OE -smeortan (only in the compound fyrsmeortende painful like fire), c. OHG smerzan (G schmerzen); (adj.) ME smerte, smart quick, prompt, sharp, orig., biting, smarting, late OE smearte, akin to the v.; (adv. and n.) ME smerte, deriv. of the adj.

Related forms:
smart⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
smartly, adverb
smartness, noun

Synonyms:
1. pain, hurt, sting. 7. lively, nimble, agile, alert, active. 8. bright, sharp, expert, adroit. 9. cunning, adept. 11. spruce; pretentious, showy. 12. chic. 14. energetic. 16. stinging, poignant, penetrating.

Antonyms:
8. stupid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To Smarter
smart   (smärt)   
adj.   smart·er, smart·est
    1. Characterized by sharp quick thought; bright. See Synonyms at intelligent.
    2. Amusingly clever; witty: a smart quip; a lively, smart conversation.
    3. Impertinent; insolent: That's enough of your smart talk.
    4. Capable of making adjustments that resemble human decisions, especially in response to changing circumstances: smart missiles.
    5. Manufactured to regulate the amount of light transmitted in response to varying light conditions or to an electronic sensor or control unit: smart windows.
  2. Energetic or quick in movement: a smart pace.
  3. Canny and shrewd in dealings with others: a smart negotiator.
  4. Fashionable; elegant: a smart suit; a smart restaurant; the smart set. See Synonyms at fashionable.
    1. Capable of making adjustments that resemble human decisions, especially in response to changing circumstances: smart missiles.
    2. Manufactured to regulate the amount of light transmitted in response to varying light conditions or to an electronic sensor or control unit: smart windows.
  6. New England & Southern U.S. Accomplished; talented: He's a right smart ball player.
intr.v.   smart·ed, smart·ing, smarts
    1. To cause a sharp, usually superficial, stinging pain: The slap delivered to my face smarted.
    2. To be the location of such a pain: The incision on my leg smarts.
    3. To feel such a pain.
  2. To suffer acutely, as from mental distress, wounded feelings, or remorse: "No creature smarts so little as a fool" (Alexander Pope).
  3. To suffer or pay a heavy penalty.
n.  
  1. Sharp mental or physical pain. See Synonyms at pain.
  2. smarts Slang Intelligence; expertise: a reporter with a lot of smarts.
Phrasal Verb(s):
smart off Informal To speak or act impertinently.

Idiom(s):
right smart New England & Southern U.S. A lot; a considerable amount: He did right smart of the work himself.

[Middle English, stinging, keen, alert, from Old English smeart, causing pain.]
smart'ly adv., smart'ness n.
Smart is a word that has diverged considerably from its original meaning of "stinging, sharp," as in a smart blow. The standard meaning of "clever, intelligent," probably picks up on the original semantic element of vigor or quick movement. Smart has taken on other senses as a regionalism. In New England and in the South smart can mean "accomplished, talented." The phrase right smart can even be used as a noun meaning "a considerable number or amount": "We have read right smart of that book" (Catherine C. Hopley).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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