Inflected forms: smart·er, smart·est 1a. Characterized by sharp quick thought; bright. See synonyms at intelligent. b. Amusingly clever; witty: a smart quip; a lively, smart conversation.c. Impertinent; insolent: That's enough of your smart talk.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. 5a. Of, relating to, or being a highly automated device, especially one that imitates human intelligence: smart missiles.b. 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.
INTRANSITIVE VERB:
Inflected forms: smart·ed, smart·ing, smarts 1a. To cause a sharp, usually superficial, stinging pain: The slap delivered to my face smarted.b. To be the location of such a pain: The incision on my leg smarts.c. 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.
NOUN:
1. Sharp mental or physical pain. See synonyms at pain. 2.smartsSlang Intelligence; expertise: a reporter with a lot of smarts.
PHRASAL VERB:
smart offInformal To speak or act impertinently.
IDIOM:
right smartNew England & Southern U.S. A lot; a considerable amount: He did right smart of the work himself.
ETYMOLOGY:
Middle English, stinging, keen, alert, from Old English smeart, causing pain.
OTHER FORMS:
smartly —ADVERB smartness —NOUN
REGIONAL NOTE:
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).
smärt
ly —ADVERB
