capable of or adapted for many different uses, skills, etc variable or changeable (of an anther) attached to the filament by a small area so that it moves freely in the wind able to turn forwards and backwards
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ver•sa•tile /ˈvɜrsətəl, -ˌtaɪl/USA pronunciation
adj.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025- capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.:a versatile teacher.
- having or capable of many uses or applications:a versatile tool.
ver•sa•tile
(vûr′sə tl or, esp. Brit., -tīl′),USA pronunciation adj.
ver′sa•tile•ly, adv.
ver′sa•til′i•ty, ver′sa•tile•ness, n.
- capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.:a versatile writer.
- having or capable of many uses:a versatile tool.
- Botanyattached at or near the middle so as to swing freely, as an anther.
- Zoologyturning either forward or backward:a versatile toe.
- variable or changeable, as in feeling, purpose, or policy:versatile moods.
- Latin versātilis revolving, many-sided, equivalent. to versāt(us) (past participle of versāre, frequentative of vertere to turn; see verse, -ate1) + -ilis -ile
- 1595–1605
ver′sa•til′i•ty, ver′sa•tile•ness, n.
- 1, 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged adaptable, all-around.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged handy.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
'versatile' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):