pert

¹ American  

[purt] / pɜrt /

adjective

perter, pertest

1. boldly forward in speech or behavior; impertinent; saucy.

   Synonyms:

   impudent, presumptuous

2. jaunty and stylish; chic; natty.

3. lively; sprightly; in good health.

4. Obsolete. clever.

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PERT ² American  

[purt] / pɜrt /

noun

1. a management method of controlling and analyzing a system or program using periodic time and money reports, often computer generated, to determine dollar and labor status at any given time.

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pert. ³ American  

abbreviation

1. pertaining.

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pert ¹ British  

/ pɜːt /

adjective

1. saucy, impudent, or forward

2. jaunty

   a pert little hat

3. obsolete clever or brisk

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PERT ² British  

/ pɜːt /

acronym

1. programme evaluation and review technique

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Other Word Forms

• pertly adverb
• pertness noun

Etymology

Origin of pert¹

1200–50; Middle English, aphetic variant of apert < Old French < Latin apertus open (past participle of aperīre; aperient ); in Middle English and Old French, influenced by Old French aspert < Latin expertus expert

Origin of PERT²

P(rogram) E(valuation and) R(eview) T(echnique)

Example Sentences

The girl in front of him had freckled, light brown skin; inquisitive brown eyes; and a pert, round nose.

From Literature

Boonbunchachoke’s strange and funny script is constructed of multiple nesting stories, like how my own vacuum pops out a pert little dustbuster that really digs into the cracks.

From Los Angeles Times

She gestured to show what she meant: two legs instead of four, pert noses, a telltale lack of little curly tails.

From Literature

Even as Lady Constance gazed upward, a leaf landed on her pert, doll-like nose.

From Literature

I actually prefer cabbage raw — preferably red — very, very thinly sliced and tossed with a pert vinaigrette and some sort of braised, crispy protein, but cooked cabbage is a staple for a good reason.

From Salon