versatile

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈvɜːrsətaɪl/

US:USA pronunciation: IPAUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈvɝsətəl, -ˌtaɪl/

US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(vûrsə tl or, esp. Brit., -tīl′)



WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ver•sa•tile /ˈvɜrsətəl, -ˌtaɪl/USA pronunciation   adj. 
  1. capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.:a versatile teacher.
  2. having or capable of many uses or applications:a versatile tool.
ver•sa•til•i•ty /ˌvɜrsəˈtɪlɪti/USA pronunciation  n. [uncountable]See -vert-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
ver•sa•tile  (vûrsə tl or, esp. Brit., -tīl′),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. capable of or adapted for turning easily from one to another of various tasks, fields of endeavor, etc.:a versatile writer.
  2. having or capable of many uses:a versatile tool.
  3. Botanyattached at or near the middle so as to swing freely, as an anther.
  4. Zoologyturning either forward or backward:a versatile toe.
  5. 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
versa•tile•ly, adv. 
ver′sa•tili•ty, versa•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 / ˈvɜːsəˌtaɪl/
  1. capable of or adapted for many different uses, skills, etc
  2. variable or changeable
  3. (of an anther) attached to the filament by a small area so that it moves freely in the wind
  4. able to turn forwards and backwards
Etymology: 17th Century: from Latin versātilis moving around, from versāre to turnˈversaˌtilelyversatility / ˌvɜːsəˈtɪlɪtɪ/, versatileness / ˈvɜːsəˌtaɪlnəs/
'versatile' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
Collocations: a versatile [machine, player, tool, product, jacket, device], a versatile [teacher, player, member, worker, writer], is [an, a very] versatile [actor, actress, performer] , more...

Forum discussions with the word(s) "versatile" in the title:


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