Definition

1. Noun:

   • A small, slender, pointed missile: A small, narrow object, often with a pointed tip and fins or feathers at the end, designed to be thrown or shot.
   • A sudden, quick movement: A rapid, often unexpected, forward motion.
   • A tapered tuck in sewing: A stitched fold in fabric, tapering to a point, used to shape a garment.

2. Verb:

   • To move suddenly and quickly: To move or go somewhere rapidly and abruptly.
   • To send or throw something suddenly: To propel or shoot something swiftly and sharply.
   • To direct something suddenly: To send a look, glance, or remark quickly and pointedly.

Examples

• Noun:

  • He threw the dart and hit the bullseye.
  • The rabbit made a sudden dart for its burrow.
  • The dressmaker put a dart in the bodice for a better fit.

• Verb:

  • The lizard darted under the rock.
  • She darted an angry glance at her colleague.
  • The player darted the ball across the field to his teammate.

Advanced Usage

• "to dart a look/glance": To look at someone or something very quickly and often sharply.

  • He darted a suspicious glance around the room.

• "to dart in and out": To move quickly and repeatedly into and out of a place or situation.

  • Small fish were darting in and out of the coral.

Variants and Related Words

• Dartboard (n): The circular target used in the game of darts.
• Darter (n): A person or thing that darts; also a type of fast-moving bird or fish.
• Darting (adj): Moving quickly and suddenly.
  • She has darting eyes.

Synonyms

• Noun (missile): missile, projectile, shaft.
• Noun/Verb (movement): dash, bolt, flash, scoot, flit.
• Verb (throw): hurl, fling, shoot.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Dart off: To leave or run away suddenly.

  • The child darted off as soon as the bell rang.

• Dart out: To move or come out very quickly.

  • A cat darted out from behind the bushes.

Related Idioms

• Look like a startled deer in the headlights: This idiom describes a frozen, shocked expression, which is the opposite of making a quick "darting" movement.
• Quick as a flash: This idiom describes something happening with the speed associated with a dart's movement.

Noun

1. a sudden quick movement
2. a tapered tuck made in dressmaking
3. a small narrow pointed missile that is thrown or shot

Verb

1. move with sudden speed
   • His forefinger darted in all directions as he spoke
2. run or move very quickly or hastily
   • She dashed into the yard
3. move along rapidly and lightly; skim or dart
   • The hummingbird flitted among the branches