adj., smart·er, smart·est.
- Characterized by sharp quick thought; bright. See synonyms at intelligent.
- Amusingly clever; witty: a smart quip; a lively, smart conversation.
- Impertinent; insolent: That's enough of your smart talk.
- Energetic or quick in movement: a smart pace.
- Canny and shrewd in dealings with others: a smart negotiator.
- Fashionable; elegant: a smart suit; a smart restaurant; the smart set. See synonyms at fashionable.
- Capable of making adjustments that resemble human decisions, especially in response to changing circumstances: smart missiles.
- Manufactured to regulate the amount of light transmitted in response to varying light conditions or to an electronic sensor or control unit: smart windows.
- New England & Southern U.S. Accomplished; talented: He's a right smart ball player.
- To cause a sharp, usually superficial, stinging pain: The slap delivered to my face smarted.
- To be the location of such a pain: The incision on my leg smarts.
- To feel such a pain.
- To suffer acutely, as from mental distress, wounded feelings, or remorse: "No creature smarts so little as a fool" (Alexander Pope).
- To suffer or pay a heavy penalty.
- Sharp mental or physical pain. See synonyms at pain.
- smarts Slang. Intelligence; expertise: a reporter with a lot of smarts.
smart off Informal.
- To speak or act impertinently.
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.]
smartly smart'ly adv.smartness smart'ness n.
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).
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
