Skirt
/skɜːrt/
Definitions
2 meaningsA separate piece of clothing that hangs from the waist and covers the lower body.
/skɜːrt/
A garment hanging from the waist.
The ballerina's skirt twirled as she danced.
💡 Simply: A skirt is like a piece of clothing that's attached at your waist and covers your legs, like a dress, but it doesn't have the top part.
👶 For kids: A skirt is what girls sometimes wear. It hangs down from the waist and covers the legs.
More Examples
She bought a new skirt at the mall.
The school uniform included a pleated skirt.
How It's Used
"She wore a long, flowing skirt to the party."
"The woman adjusted her skirt and sat down."
To move around or along the edge or border of something, avoiding it or staying near it.
/skɜːrt/
To go around or along the edge of something.
We skirted the city to avoid traffic.
💡 Simply: To skirt something is like going around it or along its edge, instead of going straight through. Think of skirting around a puddle.
👶 For kids: When you skirt something, it's like walking around the edge of it.
More Examples
The path skirts the edge of the forest.
They decided to skirt the issue and not bring it up during the meeting.
How It's Used
"The road skirts the lake, offering scenic views."
"The pilot had to skirt the storm to avoid turbulence."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
To skirt around the issue
To avoid discussing a difficult or sensitive subject directly.
"The politician tried to skirt around the issue of rising unemployment during the interview."
From Old Norse *skyrta* meaning 'shirt, tunic,' and related to 'shirt.' Originally referred to the garment worn by men, evolving to its modern usage.
Originally referred to a loose outer garment worn by men, evolving to its modern usage, which is mainly a female garment.
Memory tip
Think of a 'kirtle' – an older word for a skirt, a familiar reminder of the garment.
Word Origin
"Shirt, tunic"