skill

¹skill

intransitive verb \ˈskil\

Definition of SKILL

archaic

: to make a difference : matter, avail

Origin of SKILL

Middle English skilen, from Old Norse skilja to separate, divide; akin to Old Norse skil distinction

First Known Use: 13th century

Rhymes with SKILL

bill, brill, chill, dill, drill, fill, frill, gill, grill, grille, hill, ill, kill, krill, mil, mill, mille, nil, nill, Phil, pill, prill, quill, rill, shill, shrill, sill, spill, squill, still, swill, thill, thrill, til, till, trill, twill, vill, will

²skill

noun

Definition of SKILL

1

obsolete : cause, reason

2

a : the ability to use one's knowledge effectively and readily in execution or performance

b : dexterity or coordination especially in the execution of learned physical tasks

3

: a learned power of doing something competently : a developed aptitude or ability <language skills>

— skill–less or skil·less \ˈskil-ləs\ adjective

— skill–less·ness or skil·less·ness noun

Examples of SKILL

1. Poker is a game of luck and skill.
2. The work is difficult and requires a lot of skill.
3. Cooking is a useful skill.
4. He has excellent social skills.

Origin of SKILL

Middle English skil, from Old Norse, distinction, knowledge; probably akin to Old English scylian to separate, sciell shell — more at shell

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to SKILL

Synonyms

adeptness, adroitness, art, artfulness, artifice, artistry, cleverness, craft, cunning, deftness, masterfulness, skillfulness

Antonyms

artlessness, ineptitude, ineptness, maladroitness

Related Words

dexterity, ease, finesse, handiness; experience, expertise, expertness, know-how, proficiency; creativity, ingenuity, inventiveness, knowledge, learning; aptitude, bent, flair, gift, knack, talent

Near Antonyms

amateurishness, awkwardness, clumsiness, crudeness, klutziness, rudeness; inability, inadequacy, inadequateness, incapability, incapacity, incompetence, ineffectiveness, ineffectuality, ineffectualness, inefficacy, inefficiency

See Synonym Discussion at art