skirt

The definition of a skirt is a garment that hangs below the waist, or something like a skirt that hangs down.

(noun)

An example of a skirt is the piece of clothing that young women wore in the 50's with a poodle on it; a poodle skirt.
An example of a skirt is a flap hanging from a bed; a bed skirt.

Skirt is defined as to avoid, or be on the edge of.

(verb)

An example of skirt is changing a topic of conversation in order to not answer a question.
An example of skirt is walking along the shore of a lake.

See skirt in Webster's New World College Dictionary

noun

that part of a dress, coat, robe, etc. that hangs below the waist
a woman's garment of varying length that hangs down from the waist
something like a skirt, as a flap hanging from the side of a saddle or one covering the legs of a sofa, chair, etc.
the outer or bordering parts; outskirts, as of a city
Slang a girl or woman: sometimes considered mildly offensive

Origin: ME < ON skyrt, shirt, kirtle, akin to OE scyrte, shirt

transitive verb

to lie along or form the border or edge of
1. to move along the edge of or pass around rather than through
2. to miss narrowly
to avoid (something controversial, difficult, etc.)
to border or edge with something

intransitive verb

to be on, or move along, the edge or border: a path skirting along the pond

Related Forms:

See skirt in American Heritage Dictionary 4

noun

The part of a garment, such as a dress or coat, that hangs freely from the waist down.
A garment hanging from the waist and worn by women and girls.
A part or attachment resembling the skirt of a garment, especially:
a. One of the leather flaps hanging from the side of a saddle.
b. The lower outer section of a rocket vehicle.
c. A flexible strip hanging from the base of an air-cushion vehicle.
d. A piece of fabric that extends over or beyond something to afford protection.
An outer edge; a border or margin: a base camp on the skirt of the mountain.
skirts The edge, as of a town; the outskirts.
Offensive Slang A woman.

verb skirt·ed, skirt·ing, skirts

verb, transitive

To lie along or form the edge of; border: the creek that skirts our property.
To pass around rather than across or through: changed their course to skirt the storm.
To pass close to; miss narrowly: The bullet skirted an artery.
To evade, as by circumlocution: skirted the controversial issue.

verb, intransitive

To lie along, move along, or be an edge or a border.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English

Origin: , from Old Norse skyrta, shirt; see sker-¹ in Indo-European roots

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