skill
1[ skil ]
/ skɪl /
noun
the ability, coming from one's knowledge, practice, aptitude, etc., to do something well: Carpentry was one of his many skills.
competent excellence in performance; expertness; dexterity: The dancers performed with skill.
a craft, trade, or job requiring manual dexterity or special training in which a person has competence and experience: the skill of cabinetmaking.
Obsolete. understanding; discernment.
Obsolete. reason; cause.
SYNONYMS FOR skill
QUIZZES
DISCOVER THE INFLUENCE OF PORTUGUESE ON ENGLISH VIA THIS QUIZ!
We’ve gathered some interesting words donated to English from Portuguese … as well as some that just don’t translate at all. Do you know what they mean?
Question 1 of 11
Which of the following animal names traces its immediate origin to Portuguese?
Origin of skill
11125–75; Middle English <Old Norse skil distinction, difference; cognate with Dutch geschil difference, quarrel. See skill2
Words nearby skill
Definition for skill (2 of 2)
skill2
[ skil ]
/ skɪl /
verb (used without object) Archaic.
to matter.
to help; avail.
Origin of skill
21150–1200; Middle English skilien<Old Norse skilja to distinguish, divide, akin to skil (see skill1), Old English scylian to separate, Gothic skilja butcher, Lithuanian skélti to split
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021
Example sentences from the Web for skill
British Dictionary definitions for skill
skill
/ (skɪl) /
noun
special ability in a task, sport, etc, esp ability acquired by training
something, esp a trade or technique, requiring special training or manual proficiency
obsolete understanding
Derived forms of skill
skill-less or skilless, adjectiveWord Origin for skill
C12: from Old Norse skil distinction; related to Middle Low German schēle, Middle Dutch geschil difference
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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