smart: Meaning and Definition of

smart

Pronunciation: (smärt), [key]
— v., adj., adv., n. -er, -est,
—v.i.
  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.
—v.t.
  1. to cause a sharp pain to or in.
—adj.
  1. quick or prompt in action, as persons.
  2. having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability: a smart student.
  3. shrewd or sharp, as a person in dealing with others or as in business dealings: a smart businessman.
  4. clever, witty, or readily effective, as a speaker, speech, rejoinder, etc.
  5. dashingly or impressively neat or trim in appearance, as persons, dress, etc.
  6. socially elegant; sophisticated or fashionable: the smart crowd.
  7. saucy; pert: smart remarks.
  8. sharply brisk, vigorous, or active: to walk with smart steps.
  9. sharply severe, as a blow, stroke, etc.
  10. sharp or keen: a smart pain.
  11. equipped with, using, or containing electronic control devices, as computer systems, microprocessors, or missiles: a smart phone; a smart copier.
  12. intelligent (def. 4).
  13. considerable; fairly large.
—adv.
  1. in a smart manner; smartly.
—n.
  1. a sharp local pain, usually superficial, as from a wound, blow, or sting.
  2. keen mental suffering, as from wounded feelings, affliction, grievous loss, etc.
  3. intelligence; common sense: He never had the smarts to use his opportunities.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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