Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1600-1700
Language: Latin
Origin: dexter 'right, skilful'

dexterous

 adjective
     
dex‧ter‧ous also dextrous
1 skilful and quick when using your hands:
dextrous use of the needle
2 skilful in using words or your mind:
his dexterous accounting abilities
—dexterously adverb
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary