adj. 1 ill-adapted for use; causing difficulty in use. 2 clumsy or bungling. 3 a embarrassed (felt awkward about it). b embarrassing (an awkward situation). 4 difficult to deal with (an awkward customer). the awkward age adolescence. awkwardly adv. awkwardness n.
[ obs. awk backhanded, untoward (ME f. ON afugr turned the wrong way) + -WARD ]