dart

American  

[dahrt] / dɑrt /

noun

1. a small, slender missile that is pointed at one end and usually feathered at the other and is propelled by hand, as in the game of darts, or by a blowgun when used as a weapon.

   Synonyms:

   barb, arrow

2. something similar in function to such a missile, as the stinging member of an insect.

3. (used with a singular verb) darts, a game in which darts are thrown at a target usually marked with concentric circles divided into segments and with a bull's-eye in the center.

4. an act of darting; a sudden swift movement.

5. a tapered seam of fabric for adjusting the fit of a garment.

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verb (used without object)

1. to move swiftly; spring or start suddenly and run swiftly.

   A mouse darted out of the closet and ran across the room.

   Synonyms:

   shoot, bolt, dash

verb (used with object)

1. to thrust or move suddenly or rapidly.

   He darted his eyes around the room.

dart ¹ British  

/ dɑːt /

noun

1. a small narrow pointed missile that is thrown or shot, as in the game of darts

2. a sudden quick movement

3. zoology a slender pointed structure, as in snails for aiding copulation or in nematodes for penetrating the host's tissues

4. a tapered tuck made in dressmaking

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verb

1. to move or throw swiftly and suddenly; shoot

   she darted across the room

dart ² British  

/ dɑːt /

noun

1. any of various tropical and semitropical marine fish

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Other Word Forms

• darting adjective
• dartingly adverb
• dartingness noun

Etymology

Origin of dart

1275–1325; Middle English < Anglo-French, Old French < Old Low Franconian; compare Old English daroth, Old High German tart, Old Norse darrathr spear, lance

Example Sentences

“I have business to attend to, down the block on Washington Street,” she answered, darting behind a passing carriage as we weaved our way across a crowded street.

From Literature

“As an athlete you are always told you are engaging in a war of speed, skill and grit,” said Jeong, 31, who defected to the South in 2012 by darting across the Korean Demilitarized Zone.

From The Wall Street Journal

One of them darted into the candy store the second she saw it on our first day.

From The Wall Street Journal

The scale of his achievements over his first two years on the main PDC tour also put him on par, if not above, a whole host of darts greats.

From BBC

Retaining his world title caps a remarkable year for Littler in which he has completely dominated darts.

From BBC

Related Words

• bound
• dash
• flash
• fling
• flit
• float
• gallop
• hurry
• hurtle
• scamper
• scoot
• scurry
• skim
• sprint