Awkward



GRE 蓝宝 TOEFL 考研

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj. 笨拙的, 别扭的; 尴尬的
• ［英］ adj. 笨拙的, 别扭的 ( difficult to use) ; 尴尬的 ( causing inconvenience)

Webster Collegiate

adjective

• Etymology: Middle English awkeward in the wrong direction, from awke turned the wrong way, from Old Norse ?fugr; akin to Old High German abuh turned the wrong way
• Date: 1530
• 1. obsolete perverse
• 2. archaic unfavorable, adverse
• 3.
  • a. lacking dexterity or skill (as in the use of hands) awkward with a needle and thread
  • b. showing the result of a lack of expertness awkward pictures
• 4.
  • a. lacking ease or grace (as of movement or expression) awkward writing
  • b. lacking the right proportions, size, or harmony of parts ; ungainly an awkward design
• 5.
  • a. lacking social grace and assurance an awkward newcomer
  • b. causing embarrassment an awkward moment
• 6. not easy to handle or deal with ; requiring great skill, ingenuity, or care an awkward loadan awkward diplomatic situation
• ? awkwardly adverb
• ? awkwardness noun
• Synonyms:
  • awkward, clumsy, maladroit, inept, gauche mean not marked by ease (as of performance, movement, or social conduct). awkward is widely applicable and may suggest unhandiness, inconvenience, lack of muscular control, embarrassment, or lack of tact periods of awkward silence. clumsy implies stiffness and heaviness and so may connote inflexibility, unwieldiness, or lack of ordinary skilla clumsy mechanic. maladroit suggests a tendency to create awkward situationsa maladroit politician. inept often implies complete failure or inadequacya hopelessly inept defense attorney. gauche implies the effects of shyness, inexperience, or ill breedingfelt gauche and unsophisticated at formal parties.

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