versatile

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English

Etymology

From Latin versātilis (“turning easily”), from versātus, past participle of versō (“I turn, change”), frequentative of vertō (“I turn”).

Pronunciation

Adjective

versatile (comparative more versatile, superlative most versatile)

  1. Capable of doing many things competently.
  2. Having varied uses or many functions.
  3. Changeable or inconstant.
  4. (biology) Capable of moving freely in all directions.
    • 1996, William G. D'Arcy, edited by William G. D'Arcy and Richard C. Keating, The anther: form, function, and phylogeny:
      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. (gay slang) Capable of taking either a penetrative (top) or receptive (bottom) role in anal sex.
    Synonym: (India) double-decker
    • 2017, Simon LeVay, Gay, Straight, and the Reason why: The Science of Sexual Orientation‎:
      Among men who do engage in anal intercourse, about one-quarter are tops, one-quarter are bottoms, and one-half are versatile.
  6. (BDSM) Being a switch; capable of taking either a dominant or a submissive role.
    • 2004, queenchaser1158, “Horny Versatile TV/TS Wanted in Phoenix”, in alt.personals.gay (Usenet):
  7. (sex, broadly) Capable of being either a dominant or a submissive partner in a sexual relationship.
    Synonyms: vers, switchy

Derived terms

Translations

Further reading

Anagrams

French

Etymology

From Latin versātilis.

Pronunciation

Adjective

versatile (plural versatiles)

  1. versatile; easily changeable
  2. indecisive

Derived terms

Further reading

Italian

Etymology

From Latin versātilis, from versāre (“to turn, to twist”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /verˈsa.ti.le/
  • Rhymes: -atile
  • Hyphenation: ver‧sà‧ti‧le

Adjective

versatile (plural versatili)

  1. versatile
  2. all-round, all around, multiskilled

Derived terms

Anagrams

Latin

Adjective

versātile

  1. nominative/accusative/vocative neuter singular of versātilis

Romanian

Pronunciation

Adjective

versatile f pl or n pl

  1. nominative/accusative feminine/neuter plural of versatil
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