smarts (smɑːts
)
Definitions
plural noun
- slang mainly US know-how, intelligence, or wits ⇒
street smarts
smart (smɑːt)
Definitions
adjective
- astute, as in business; clever or bright
- quick, witty, and often impertinent in speech ⇒
a smart talker
- fashionable; chic ⇒
a smart hotel
- well-kept; neat
- causing a sharp stinging pain
- vigorous or brisk
- dialect considerable or numerous ⇒
a smart price
- (of systems) operating as if by human intelligence by using automatic computer control
- (of a projectile or bomb) containing a device that allows it to be guided to its target
verb (mainly intr)
- to feel, cause, or be the source of a sharp stinging physical pain or keen mental distress ⇒
a nettle sting smarts
he smarted under their abuse
- (often foll by for) to suffer a harsh penalty
noun
- a stinging pain or feeling
adverb
- in a smart manner
Alternative Forms
ˈsmartish adjective ˈsmartly adverb ˈsmartness nounWord Origin
Old English smeortan; related to Old High German smerzan, Latin mordēre to bite, Greek smerdnos terribleSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
chic,
trim,
neat,
fashionable,
stylish,
fine,
elegant,
trendy,
spruce,
snappy,
natty,
modish,
well turned-out,
schmick,
=
clever,
bright,
intelligent,
quick,
sharp,
keen,
acute,
shrewd,
apt,
ingenious,
astute,
canny,
quick-witted,
= feel resentful feel annoyed feel offended feel wounded feel indignant
Usage examples
You're talking about a physician, a pillar of the community who's got the dough and smarts to sue us into the next century.
, Doll's Eyes (1994)He is the simple, morally upright underdog, who wins not by violence but by good-natured street smarts.
India Today (1997)Just when we thought a looming election may scare some smarts into Ernie Eves ' Tories, they pull off yet another bonehead move.
Toronto Sun (2003)As road-rage warrior Dominic Torretohe has the wisecracks of Willis, the arms of Arnieand the street smarts of Stallone.
Sun, News of the World (2001)He still smarts from the smears, emanating from the Blair camp, that he was homosexual.
, LEND ME YOUR EARS (2003)