/ ˈdʒiːniəs; NAmE / noun ( pl. ge·niuses )
1.
[ U ] unusually great intelligence, skill or artistic ability :
the genius of Shakespeare
a statesman of genius
Her idea was a stroke of genius .
2.
[ C ] a person who is unusually intelligent or artistic, or who has a very high level of skill, especially in one area :
a mathematical / comic, etc. genius
He's a genius at organizing people.
You don't have to be a genius to see that they are in love!
3.
[ sing. ] genius for sth / for doing sth a special skill or ability :
He had a genius for making people feel at home.
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IDIOMS
- sb's good / evil genius
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WORD ORIGIN
late Middle English : from Latin , attendant spirit present from one's birth, innate ability or inclination , from the root of gignere beget. The original sense spirit attendant on a person gave rise to a sense a person's characteristic disposition (late 16th cent.), which led to a sense a person's natural ability , and finally exceptional natural ability (mid 17th cent.).