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smartest

 - 4 dictionary results

smart

[smahrt] verb, adjective, -er, -est, adverb, noun
–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.


smart⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
smartly, adverb
smartness, noun


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.


8. stupid.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To smartest
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.

  1. Energetic or quick in movement: a smart pace.

  2. Canny and shrewd in dealings with others: a smart negotiator.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  1. To suffer acutely, as from mental distress, wounded feelings, or remorse: "No creature smarts so little as a fool" (Alexander Pope).

  2. 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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Word Origin & History

smart  (adj.)
late O.E. smeart "sharp, severe, stinging," related to smeortan (see smart (v.)). Meaning "quick, active, clever" is attested from c.1303, probably from the notion of "cutting" wit, words, etc.; meaning "trim in attire" first attested 1718, "ascending from the kitchen to the drawing-room c.1880." [Weekley] In ref. to devices, "behaving as though guided by intelligence" (e.g. smart bomb) first attested 1972. Smarts "good sense, intelligence," is first recorded 1968. Smart aleck is from 1865, perhaps in allusion to Aleck Hoag, notorious pimp, thief, and confidence man in New York City in early 1840s. Smart cookie is from 1948; smarty-pants first attested 1941.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: smart
Pronunciation: 'smärt
Function: intransitive verb
: to cause or be the cause or seat of a sharp poignant pain smarting of the conjunctiva —H. G. Armstrong>; also : to feel or have such a pain
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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