ex|pert´ness

ex|pert «noun, verb. EHKS purt; adjective. ehk SPURT, EHKS purt», noun, adjective, verb.

–n.

a person who has much skill or who knows a great deal about some special thing; authority; specialist: »

She is an expert at fancy skating.

–adj.

1. having much skill; knowing a great deal about some special thing: »

an expert painter. He is an expert chemist.

2. requiring or showing special skill: »

expert workmanship, expert testimony.

–v.t.

Especially U.S. Informal. to study or examine as an expert: »

to expert the accounts of a company.

–v.i.

Especially U.S. Informal. to be or act as an expert: »

The millionaire…devoted much of his life thereafter to playing and experting at bridge (Time).

╂[< Latin expertus, past participle of experīrī; see etym. under experience (Cf. ↑experience)]

–ex|pert´ly, adverb.

–ex|pert´ness, noun.

Synonym Study adjective. 1 Expert, proficient, skilled mean having the training and knowledge to do a special thing well. Expert implies having mastery or unusual ability as the result of experience in addition to training and practice: »

The secretary was an expert typist.

Proficient implies being very good at doing something, especially as the result of training and practice, but not having complete mastery or unusual ability: »

She is proficient at sewing.

Skilled implies knowing thoroughly how to do something, usually because of training and practice, and being competent at doing it: »

He is a skilled mechanic.