clever
(redirected from cleverer)Also found in: Thesaurus, Idioms.
clev·er
(klĕv′ər)adj. clev·er·er, clev·er·est
1.
a. Mentally quick and original; bright: a clever student.
b. Skilled at accomplishing things, especially with the hands: a clever carpenter.
c. Crafty; cunning: "a hard-working kid who rose from poverty, only to be duped by rich, clever bankers" (Jeff Goodell).
2.
a. Exhibiting ingenuity or imagination; creative or artful: a clever experiment.
b. Witty; amusing: an evening of clever repartee.
c. Characterized by cunning or shrewdness: clever manipulation of public opinion.
3. New England Easily managed; docile: "Oxen must be pretty clever to be bossed around the way they are" (Dialect Notes).
4. Chiefly Southern US Good-natured; amiable.
clev′er·ly adv.
clev′er·ness n.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
clever
(ˈklɛvə)adj
1. displaying sharp intelligence or mental alertness
2. adroit or dexterous, esp with the hands
3. smart in a superficial way
4. informal Brit sly; cunning
5. (predicative; used with a negative) dialect healthy; fit
[C13 cliver (in the sense: quick to seize, adroit), of uncertain origin]
ˈcleverish adj
ˈcleverly adv
ˈcleverness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
clev•er
(ˈklɛv ər)adj. -er•er, -er•est.
1. mentally bright; having sharp or quick intelligence; able.
2. superficially skillful or witty; facile: a clever remark.
3. showing inventiveness or originality; ingenious: a clever idea.
4. dexterous or nimble.
5. Dial.
a. suitable; satisfactory.
b. good-natured.
c. handsome.
[1250–1300; Middle English cliver, akin to Old English clifer claw, clife burdock. See cleavers]
clev′er•ish, adj.
clev′er•ish•ly, adv.
clev′er•ly, adv.
clev′er•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
| Adj. | 1. | clever - showing self-interest and shrewdness in dealing with others; "a cagey lawyer"; "too clever to be sound" smart - showing mental alertness and calculation and resourcefulness |
| 2. |  clever - mentally quick and resourceful; "an apt pupil"; "you are a clever man...you reason well and your wit is bold"-Bram Stokerintelligent - having the capacity for thought and reason especially to a high degree; "is there intelligent life in the universe?"; "an intelligent question" | |
| 3. | clever - showing inventiveness and skill; "a clever gadget"; "the cunning maneuvers leading to his success"; "an ingenious solution to the problem" adroit - quick or skillful or adept in action or thought; "an exceptionally adroit pianist"; "an adroit technician"; "his adroit replies to hecklers won him many followers"; "an adroit negotiator" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
clever
adjective
1. intelligent, quick, bright, talented, gifted, keen, capable, smart, sensible, rational, witty, apt, discerning, knowledgeable, astute, brainy (informal), quick-witted, sagacious, knowing, deep, expert My sister has always been the clever one in our family.
intelligent slow, thick, stupid, dull, dense, dumb (informal), witless
intelligent slow, thick, stupid, dull, dense, dumb (informal), witless
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
clever
adjective1. Mentally quick and original:
Idiom: smart as a whip.
2. Exhibiting or possessing skill and ease in performance:
3. Amusing or pleasing because of wit or originality:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
TranslationsSelect a language:
Spanish / Español
clever
[ˈklevəʳ] ADJ (cleverer (compar) (cleverest (superl)))1. (= intelligent) [person] → inteligente, listo
clever girl! → ¡qué chica más lista!
that was clever of you → ¡qué listo eres!
that wasn't very clever, was it? > → eso ha sido una metedura de pata ¿no te parece?
clever girl! → ¡qué chica más lista!
that was clever of you → ¡qué listo eres!
that wasn't very clever, was it? > → eso ha sido una metedura de pata ¿no te parece?
2. (= skilful) [craftsman, sportsman] → hábil, habilidoso; [piece of work, action] → hábil, ingenioso
he is very clever with his hands → es muy mañoso, es muy hábil or habilidoso con las manos
she is very clever with cars → entiende de coches, tiene mano para los coches
to be clever at sth → tener aptitud para algo
he is very clever with his hands → es muy mañoso, es muy hábil or habilidoso con las manos
she is very clever with cars → entiende de coches, tiene mano para los coches
to be clever at sth → tener aptitud para algo
3. (= ingenious) [book, idea, design] → ingenioso
4. (often pej) (= smart, astute) [politician, lawyer, criminal] → astuto, listo; [move, approach, plan] → astuto, ingenioso; [trick, hoax, technique, advertising] → ingenioso
he was too clever for us → fue más listo que nosotros
he did some clever book-keeping → hizo la contabilidad con bastante maña
don't get clever (with me)! > → ¡no te hagas el listo (conmigo)!
to be too clever by half > → pasarse de listo
clever Dick (Brit) clever clogs (Brit) → sabelotodo mf inv, listorro/a m/f
see also half 1
he was too clever for us → fue más listo que nosotros
he did some clever book-keeping → hizo la contabilidad con bastante maña
don't get clever (with me)! > → ¡no te hagas el listo (conmigo)!
to be too clever by half > → pasarse de listo
clever Dick (Brit) clever clogs (Brit) → sabelotodo mf inv, listorro/a m/f
see also half 1
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
clever
(ˈklevə) adjective1. quick to learn and understand. a clever child.inteligente
2. skilful. a clever carpenter.hábil
3. (of things) showing cleverness. a clever idea.ingenioso
ˈcleverly adverb con inteligencia
ˈcleverness nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
clever
→ inteligenteMultilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009