I. ˈekˌspər]t, -pə̄], -pəi], ikˈs-, ekˈs-; ˈeḵspə(r)]; usu ]d.+V adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Latin; Middle French expert, from Latin expertus, past participle of experiri to try — more at experience I
1. obsolete : proved or approved by test : experienced
his bark is stoutly timbered and his pilot of very expert and approved allowance — Shakespeare
2. : having special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience : knowing and ready as a result of wide experience or extensive practice : clever , skillful
an expert bridge player
an artist expert in shaping his material into one comprehensive design — S.C.Chew
had become expert at learning scientific formulas and principles by heart — Upton Sinclair
3.
a. : involving or displaying special skill or knowledge, extensive practice, or wide experience
the acting was fresh, warm, self-assured …, and expert — John Mason Brown
the shoemaker whose … hands had never been so nimble and expert — Charles Dickens
b. : of or relating to an expert
his presence was frequently required in an expert capacity at the League's general conferences — Current Biography
Synonyms: see proficient
II. like expert III verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: in sense vt 1, from Middle English experten, from expert, adjective; in other senses, from expert (III)
transitive verb
1. obsolete : experience
2. : to serve as an expert for
wanted to know whatever happened to the man who had been sent to expert their business — Woman
intransitive verb
: to serve as or set oneself up as an expert
read the newspapers and books of the countries on which they are experting — Hispania
III. ˈekˌspər]t, -pə̄], -pəi] also -_spə(r)], usu ]d.+V noun
( -s )
Etymology: French, from expert, adjective
1. : one who has acquired special skill in or knowledge of a particular subject through professional training or practical experience : authority , specialist
being an amateur … in philosophy he naturally looks for guidance to the experts and professionals — William James
this problem … was extremely difficult, and an expert in geodesy was brought from the U.S. — V.G.Heiser
broadly : one having skill or knowledge not possessed by mankind in general
every man arranged his knapsack and blanket bag … with the practiced discretion of an expert — E.K.Kane
2.
a. : the highest classification given to a member of the military for skill in the use of arms
b. : a soldier having such a classification
Synonyms:
adept , artist , artiste , virtuoso , wizard : each of these six nouns designates a person who shows mastery in a subject, an art, or a profession, or who shows unusual skill in execution, performance, or technique. expert implies experience, knowledge, and achievement, and usually recognition as an authority in the subject, art, or profession
an expert in foreign policy
an expert in mathematics
an expert at skiing
an expert in the art of evasion
adept , usually connoting understanding of the mysteries of an art or craft or penetration into secrets beyond the reach of exact science, implies, in the most modern use, subtlety or ingenuity
an adept in religions of the East
an adept in the Platonic philosophy — Benjamin Farrington
an adept at understatement — John Buchan
artist stresses extraordinary skill in execution usually involving a high degree of imagination or taste
an artist at flower arrangement
an artist in manipulating public opinion — Samuel Lubell
an artist at invective — W.A.Swanberg
artiste , orig. applied to actors, singers, and dancers, is now also often humorously applied to workers in crafts where adeptness and taste are indispensable
a cook, a tragedian, or a music-hall artiste — Osbert Sitwell
a Hollywood musical about life among the radio artistes — John McCarten
a tightrope artiste quickly crossing the wire — George Bellairs
virtuoso , usually applied to musicians, especially pianists or violinists, stresses the display of great technical skill or brilliance in execution
one of the piano virtuosos of international reputation — Current Biography
a frightfully wonderful virtuoso in the old art of love — G.B.Shaw
wizard implies a knowledge or skill so great that it seems to border on the magical
a mathematical wizard
a wizard with cards — Malcolm Cowley
a wizard in calculating distance — Current Biography