deft

CEFRB2

/dɛft/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Skillful and quick in using your hands or mind.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Quick and neat in action; skillful.

Examples

  • He tried to conceal his ineptitude in a not-so-deft sleight of hand.

  • The deft fingers of the pianist moved quickly.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
2
Parts of speech
1
Citations
1

Deep Dive

More examples

In context

  • The deft handling of the situation was impressive.

  • He assembled it in one fluid, deft motion.

  • Alvarez then got on the scoresheet after the hosts carved open the Huddersfield defence with some intricate passing before the Argentina forward's deft finish rolled into the net.

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The blank chef sliced the vegetables with incredible speed and precision.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Middle English defte, daft (“gentle”), from Old English dæfte (“mild, gentle, meek”), from Proto-West Germanic *daftī (“fitting, suitable”), derived from *dabaną (“to be suitable”). Near cognates include Gothic 𐌲𐌰𐌳𐍉𐍆𐍃 (gadōfs, “suitable”), West Frisian deftich (“distinguished”), Dutch deftig (“distinguished”), German deftig (“coarse”). Further cognates include Russian добро (dobro, “wealth, good”) and Latin faber (“craftsman; skillful”). Doublet of daft.