versatile

CEFRB2

/ˈvɜː.səˌtaɪl/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Able to do many different things well.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Changeable or inconstant.

Examples

  • Avoiding one-use kitchen utensils, Elton forgoes apple corers, preferring the more versatile paring knife.

  • The Lord is versatile: He giveth and taketh.

At a glance

Sits at B2 on the CEFR scale

Senses
5
Parts of speech
1
Citations
3
Synonyms
2

Also pronounced

  • [ˈvɜː.səˌtaɪɫ]
  • [ˈvɜː.səˌtɑɪɫ]

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Having varied uses or many functions.

  2. Capable of doing many things competently.

  3. Capable of moving freely in all directions.

More examples

In context

  • The programming language Java is highly versatile.

  • The versatile anther is an important step up in flowering plant evolution and it may be the most widespread of all simple anther types.

  • Ruthanna Boris, a versatile dancer and choreographer who was the first American ballerina to be a star of one of the prestigious Ballets Russes troupes of the ’40s, died Friday at her home in El Cerrito, Calif. She was 88.

Synonyms

Quick test

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Question 1 · Quick check

The new smartphone is blank, serving as a phone, camera, and computer.

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

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From Latin versātilis (“turning easily”), from versātus, past participle of versō (“to turn, change”), frequentative of vertō (“to turn”).