skill

¹

[skil]

noun

1. the ability, coming from one's knowledge, practice, aptitude, etc., to do something well.

   Carpentry was one of his many skills.

   Synonyms: facility, proficiency
   Antonyms: inability

2. competent excellence in performance; expertness; dexterity.

   The dancers performed with skill.

   Synonyms: cleverness, deftness

3. a craft, trade, or job requiring manual dexterity or special training in which a person has competence and experience.

   the skill of cabinetmaking.

4. Obsolete.,  understanding; discernment.

5. Obsolete.,  reason; cause.

skill

²

[skil]

verb (used without object)

Archaic.

1. to matter.

2. to help; avail.

skill

/ skɪl /

noun

1. special ability in a task, sport, etc, esp ability acquired by training

2. something, esp a trade or technique, requiring special training or manual proficiency

3. obsolete,  understanding

Other Word Forms

• skill-less adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of skill¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English, from Old Norse skil “distinction, difference”; cognate with Dutch geschil “difference, quarrel”; skill ² ( def. )

Origin of skill²

First recorded in 1150–1200; Middle English skilien, from Old Norse skilja “to distinguish, divide,” akin to skil ( skill ¹ ( def. ) ), Old English scylian “to separate,” Gothic skilja “butcher,” Lithuanian skélti “to split”

Word History and Origins

Origin of skill¹

C12: from Old Norse skil distinction; related to Middle Low German schēle, Middle Dutch geschil difference

Example Sentences

Unlike many other oldies acts, Volman and Kaylan possessed sharp business skills, acquired after their messy fallout with their record label, White Whale.

From Los Angeles Times

Rebuilding innings - like South Africa had to do at Lord's - is a skill you learn through playing the format.

From BBC

OpenAI said it’s working with businesses such as Walmart and John Deere to build a platform that will help employers find workers with AI skills.

From Los Angeles Times

Knife skills, too, were given a linguistic beat: “Motion of the ocean” for rocking cuts, “slices, sticks, dices” to map the rhythm of the hand and blade.

From Salon

However, California’s highest in the nation energy prices , tough land-use regulations and lack of blue-collar skills education discourage the construction of new data centers by the likes of Nvidia and Samsung.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• accomplishment 
• art 
• artistry 
• clout 
• competence 
• dexterity 
• experience 
• expertise 
• finesse 
• ingenuity 
• intelligence 
• job 
• know-how 
• proficiency 
• prowess 
• quickness www.thesaurus.com
• readiness 
• savvy 
• technique