CLEVER


Meaning of CLEVER in English

clev ‧ er S2 /ˈklevə $ -ər/ BrE AmE adjective

[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language ]

1 . especially British English able to learn and understand things quickly SYN intelligent , smart American English :

a clever man

very/extremely/quite/pretty etc clever

Lucy is quite clever and does well at school.

2 . able to use your intelligence to get what you want, especially in a slightly dishonest way:

a clever lawyer’s tricks

3 . especially British English skilful at doing a particular thing:

Bill’s very clever with his hands.

his clever ball control

clever at doing something

He was clever at finding bargains.

4 . done or made in an unusual or interesting way that is very effective:

What a clever little gadget!

a clever marketing strategy

5 . British English spoken used jokingly when someone has done something silly or stupid:

‘When I got to the library I found I’d left the books at home.’ ‘That was clever!’

6 . clever clogs/dick British English spoken used to describe someone who is annoying because they are always right or always think they are right

7 . be too clever by half British English spoken to be clever, and to show that you are clever in a way that annoys other people

—cleverly adverb

—cleverness noun [uncountable]

• • •

THESAURUS

▪ intelligent having a high level of mental ability, and good at thinking clearly and understanding ideas:

The top universities aim to select the most intelligent students.

▪ clever especially British English , smart especially American English intelligent, so that you can think and learn quickly and find ways to solve problems:

That was very clever of you. How did you do that?

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I wasn’t smart enough to be a lawyer.

▪ bright intelligent – used especially about children and young people:

He’s a very bright kid.

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the brightest student in the class

▪ brilliant extremely intelligent and good at the work you do:

a brilliant scientist

▪ gifted a gifted child is much more intelligent than most other children:

a special school for gifted children

▪ wise able to make good decisions and give sensible advice, especially because you have a lot of experience:

a wise old man

▪ cunning/crafty good at using your intelligence to get what you want, often by making secret plans or tricking people:

She was cunning enough to keep this latest piece of information secret.

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He’s a crafty old devil!

▪ brainy informal intelligent and good at studying:

My sister is the brainy one in our family.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English.      Longman - Словарь современного английского языка.