deft

/deft/

Friendly

The word "deft" is an adjective that describes someone who is very skillful and quick in their movements, especially when using their hands. When you say someone is deft, you mean they can do things with great skill and ease.

Simple Explanation:

• Deft means someone is good at doing things with their hands. For example, a person who can quickly and skillfully tie knots, play a musical instrument, or dance can be described as deft.

Usage Instructions:

• You can use "deft" to describe a person’s skills in any activity that requires physical movement, particularly with the hands.
• It often gives a positive impression of someone being not only skilled but also graceful in their movements.

Examples:

1. "The deft waiter moved quickly between the tables, serving food without spilling a single drop."

   • This means the waiter is very skilled at serving food and does it smoothly.

2. "She used her deft fingers to create a beautiful piece of art."

   • Here, it indicates that her fingers are skilled and able to create art easily.

Advanced Usage:

• In a more advanced context, "deft" can also describe mental skills or cleverness in problem-solving. For example, "The scientist made a deft move in the experiment that led to a groundbreaking discovery."

Word Variants:

• Deftly (adverb): This describes doing something in a skillful way.
  • Example: "He deftly solved the puzzle in just a few minutes."
• Deftness (noun): This refers to the quality of being deft.
  • Example: "Her deftness in handling the situation impressed everyone."

Different Meanings:

• While "deft" primarily refers to physical skill, it can also imply cleverness or ingenuity in thinking or problem-solving.

Synonyms:

• Skillful
• Dexterous (another word that means skillful, especially with the hands)
• Agile
• Nimble

Idioms and Phrasal Verbs:

• There are no specific idioms or phrasal verbs that directly use the word "deft," but phrases like "light on one's feet" can imply a similar gracefulness in physical movement.

Summary:

In summary, "deft" is a positive word that describes someone who is very skilled and quick in physical movements, especially with their hands.

Academic

Adjective

1. skillful in physical movements; especially of the hands
   • a deft waiter
   • deft fingers massaged her face
   • dexterous of hand and inventive of mind

Synonyms

• dexterous
• dextrous