to be a source of sharp, local, and usually superficial pain, as a wound.
to be the cause of a sharp, stinging pain, as an irritating application, a blow, etc.
to feel a sharp, stinging pain, as in a wound.
to suffer keenly from wounded feelings: She smarted under their criticism.
to feel shame or remorse or to suffer in punishment or in return for something.
verb (used with object)
to cause a sharp pain to or in.
adjective,smart·er,smart·est.
quick or prompt in action, as persons.
having or showing quick intelligence or ready mental capability: a smart student.
shrewd or sharp, as a person in dealing with others or as in business dealings: a smart businessman.
clever, witty, or readily effective, as a speaker, speech, rejoinder, etc.
dashingly or impressively neat or trim in appearance, as persons, dress, etc.
socially elegant; sophisticated or fashionable: the smart crowd.
saucy; pert: smart remarks.
sharply brisk, vigorous, or active: to walk with smart steps.
sharply severe, as a blow, stroke, etc.
sharp or keen: a smart pain.
(of a machine, system, etc.) equipped with electronic control mechanisms, software programs, etc., and capable of remote, automated, and seemingly intelligent operation: smart copiers;smart weapons;a smart thermostat.
equipped with microprocessors, as for data processing, internet access, etc. (usually used in combination): a smartphone;a smartwatch.
having properties that can be changed in response to stimuli or environmental conditions; self-regulating: smart fabrics that respond to temperature or light.
Computers. intelligent (def. 4).
Older Use. considerable; fairly large.
adverb
in a smart manner; smartly.
noun
a sharp local pain, usually superficial, as from a wound, blow, or sting.
keen mental suffering, as from wounded feelings, affliction, grievous loss, etc.
smarts,Slang. intelligence; common sense: He never had the smarts to use his opportunities.
Origin of smart
First recorded before 1050; Middle English (verb) smerten, Old English -smeortan (only in the compound fyrsmeortende “painful like fire”), cognate with Old High German smerzan (German schmerzen ); (adjective) Middle English smerte, smart “quick, prompt, sharp,” originally, “biting, smarting,” late Old English smearte, akin to the verb; (adverb and noun) Middle English smerte, derivative of the adjective
The structures are fashioned from “smart glass” that renders them opaque after a user enters and locks the door.
Loo with a view: Would you dare to use Tokyo’s transparent public toilets?|claychandler|September 15, 2020|Fortune
Many analysts say Huang’s emphasis on Arm’s strength in energy-efficiency is smart.
Nvidia’s purchase of Arm creates an A.I. computing juggernaut|Jeremy Kahn|September 14, 2020|Fortune
Not all of these series are good — some are quite bad, actually — but you can feel smart for watching them all the same.
One Good Thing: A Danish drama perfect for political devotees, now on Netflix|Emily VanDerWerff|September 11, 2020|Vox
While Amazon continues to lead the smart speaker market, both Google and Apple have the advantage of having their voice assistants built into smartphones.
‘Amazon is a brand play for us’: How Buick is building a long-term partnership around Amazon’s ad business|Seb Joseph|September 10, 2020|Digiday
In May, and again this fall, the district rolled out “smart” buses with Wi-Fi hot spots in areas without reliable internet access.
Creative school plans could counter inequities exposed by COVID-19|Sujata Gupta|September 8, 2020|Science News
A woman in a smart uniform scribbles out tickets for a growing line of tourists eager to take a trip on the old-fashioned train.
Riding Thailand’s WWII Death Railway|Liza Foreman|December 21, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It used to be frequently said back in 2000 that Jeb was “the smart brother.”
Be the Smarter Bush Brother, Jeb: Don’t Run!|Michael Tomasky|December 17, 2014|DAILY BEAST
A lot of British pubs have been smart enough to understand this and respond.
Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries|Clive Irving|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Thorgerson and Powell turned to video and film—a smart move given the emergence of MTV.
The Golden Age of Rock Album Covers|Ted Gioia|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I know there are police officers who are kind, compassionate, and smart.
Are College Educated Police Safer?|Keli Goff|December 1, 2014|DAILY BEAST
On the box the driver glistened with smart buttons and silver braid.
Mr. Incoul's Misadventure|Edgar Saltus
"You talk like one o' them smart chaps they calls, and werry properly, penny-a-liars," observed Ginger.
Auriol|W. Harrison Ainsworth
Cynthy is one of the most capable girls, smart as a trap, and bright as a biscuit.
The Landlord at Lion's Head, Complete|William Dean Howells
Thus he says, with evident relish of its smart severity, the people will always accept their masters, and will never choose them.
Turning a bend of the road, they came suddenly upon a young lady accompanied by two little boys, in smart velvet suits.
A Crooked Path|Mrs. Alexander
British Dictionary definitions for smart (1 of 2)
smart
/ (smɑːt) /
adjective
astute, as in business; clever or bright
quick, witty, and often impertinent in speecha smart talker
fashionable; chica smart hotel
well-kept; neat
causing a sharp stinging pain
vigorous or brisk
dialectconsiderable or numerousa smart price
(of systems) operating as if by human intelligence by using automatic computer control
(of a projectile or bomb) containing a device that allows it to be guided to its target
verb(mainly intr)
to feel, cause, or be the source of a sharp stinging physical pain or keen mental distressa nettle sting smarts; he smarted under their abuse
(often foll by for)to suffer a harsh penalty
noun
a stinging pain or feeling
adverb
in a smart manner
Derived forms of smart
smartish, adjectivesmartly, adverbsmartness, noun
Word Origin for smart
Old English smeortan; related to Old High German smerzan, Latin mordēre to bite, Greek smerdnos terrible
British Dictionary definitions for smart (2 of 2)
Smart
/ (smɑːt) /
noun
Christopher. 1722–71, British poet, author of A Song to David (1763) and Jubilate Agno (written 1758–63, published 1939). He was confined (1756–63) for religious mania and died in a debtors' prison