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clever

 - 3 dictionary results

clev·er

   [klev-er]
–adjective,-er, -est.
1.
mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able.
2.
superficially skillful, witty, or original in character or construction; facile: It was an amusing, clever play, but of no lasting value.
3.
showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious: His clever device was the first to solve the problem.
4.
adroit with the hands or body; dexterous or nimble.
5.
Older Use.
a.
suitable; convenient; satisfactory.
b.
good-natured.
c.
handsome.
d.
in good health.
Use clever in a Sentence
Origin:
1175–1225; ME cliver, akin to OE clifer claw, clife burdock. See cleavers

—Related forms
clev·er·ish, adjective
clev·er·ish·ly, adverb
clev·er·ly, adverb
clev·er·ness, noun
o·ver·clev·er, adjective
o·ver·clev·er·ly, adverb
o·ver·clev·er·ness, noun
un·clev·er, adjective
un·clev·er·ly, adverb
un·clev·er·ness, noun

—Synonyms
1. ingenious, talented, quick-witted; smart, gifted; apt, expert. 4. skillful, agile, handy.

—Antonyms
1. stupid. 4. clumsy.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To clever
World English Dictionary
clever (ˈklɛvə) [Click for IPA pronunciation guide]
 
—adj
1.  displaying sharp intelligence or mental alertness
2.  adroit or dexterous, esp with the hands
3.  smart in a superficial way
4.  informal (Brit) sly; cunning
5.  dialect (predicative; used with a negative) healthy; fit
 
[C13 cliver (in the sense: quick to seize, adroit), of uncertain origin]
 
'cleverish
 
—adj
 
'cleverly
 
—adv
 
'cleverness
 
—n

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Word Origin & History

clever
c.1590, from E.Anglian dial. cliver "expert at seizing," probably from E.Fris. klufer or Norwegian dialectic klover "ready, skillful," perhaps infl. by O.E. clifer "claw, hand" (early usages seem to refer to dexterity); extension to intellect is first recorded 1704.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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