versatile — English Dictionary

Adjective

1. Capable of doing many things competently.

   Usage

   • of a person

   Examples

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   Ruthanna Boris, a versatile dancer and choreographer who was the first American ballerina to be a star of one of the prestigious Ballets Russes troupes of the ’40s, died Friday at her home in El Cerrito, Calif. She was 88.

2. Having varied uses or many functions.

   Usage

   • usually
   • of an object

   Examples

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   The paddles were enormously versatile, serving as radio-antenna masts, shovels, ice prods, snow knives, and potential argument settlers—whoever had one in his hand at the time would win.

3. Changeable or inconstant.

4. Capable of moving freely in all directions.

   Examples

   The versatile anther is an important step up in flowering plant evolution and it may be the most widespread of all simple anther types.

5. Synonym of vers (“Willing to take either a penetrative or receptive role in anal sex”).

   Examples

   Among men who do engage in anal intercourse, about one-quarter are tops, one-quarter are bottoms, and one-half are versatile.

6. Being a switch; capable of taking either a dominant or a submissive role.

   Synonyms

   versswitchy

7. Capable of being either a dominant or a submissive partner in a sexual relationship.

   Usage

   • broadly

Adjective

1. having great diversity or variety

   Synonyms

   various

   Examples

   his various achievements are impressive

   his vast and versatile erudition

2. changeable or inconstant

   Examples

   versatile moods

3. competent in many areas and able to turn with ease from one thing to another

   Examples

   a versatile writer

4. able to move freely in all directions

   Examples

   an owl's versatile toe can move backward and forward

   an insect's versatile antennae can move up and down or laterally

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   a versatile anther of a flower moves freely in the wind