skill

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) A capacity to do something well; a technique, an ability, usually acquired or learned, as opposed to abilities that are regarded as innate.
2. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Discrimination; judgment; propriety; reason; cause.
3. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Knowledge; understanding.
4. (countable, obsolete, uncountable) Display of art; exercise of ability; contrivance; address.

Adj

Great, excellent.

Verb

1. (transitive) To set apart; separate.
2. (dialectal, transitive) To discern; have knowledge or understanding; to know how (to).
3. (Northern-England, Scotland, dialectal, rare, transitive) To know; to understand.
4. (intransitive) To have knowledge or comprehension; discern.
5. (intransitive) To have personal or practical knowledge; be versed or practised; be expert or dextrous.
6. (archaic, intransitive) To make a difference; signify; matter.
7. To spend acquired points in exchange for skills.

Synonyms

ability

dexterity

proficiency

talent

cleverness

art

🎨

aptitude

expertise

capability

competence

craft

expertness

knack

mastery

technique

adroitness

deftness

capacity

craftsmanship

workmanship

experience

artistry

knowledge

power

efficiency

ingenuity

accomplishment

science

cunning

faculty

expert

skillfulness

adeptness

technology

trick

understanding

competency

handiness

know-how

skilfulness

tact

attainment

acquisition

acquirement

trade

sense

hand

✋

sleight

fitness

force

Translations

habileté

abilità

Fähigkeit

Fertigkeit

habilidad

habilidade

capacité

aptitude

Geschicklichkeit

vaardigheid

capacità

talent

compétence

bekwaamheid

vermogen

Pronounced as (IPA)

/skɪl/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: skill

Inherited from Old English: scille

Cognate with Danish: skel

Cognate with Swedish: skäl

Cognate with Dutch: verschil

Inherited from Middle English: skilen

Inherited from Old English: scilian

Cognate with Danish: skille

Cognate with Swedish: skilja

Cognate with Icelandic: skilja

Cognate with Low German: schelen

Cognate with Dutch: schelen

In summary

From Middle English skill, skille (also schil, schile), from Old Norse skil (“a distinction, discernment, knowledge”), from Proto-Germanic *skilją (“separation, limit”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kelH- (“to split, cut”). Cognate with Danish skel (“a separation, boundary, divide”), Swedish skäl (“reason”), Dutch verschil (“difference”) and schillen (“to separate the outer layer (schil) from the product”, verb).