Feb 1, 2005 03:09
19 yrs ago
6 viewers *
English term

versatile

English Other General / Conversation / Greetings / Letters
Does 'versatile' below mean 'has multiple purpose' or 'flexible'? thanks

These methods are extremely versatile, which means that they work as well with groups of strangers as with long-term colleagues.

Responses

+1
6 mins
Selected

having great diversity / adapting themselves to a variety of ways

in the sense of flexibility, yes.

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Meaning of VERSATILE
Pronunciation: 'vursutil


WordNet Dictionary

Definition: [adj] (used of persons) having many skills
[adj] (biology) able to move freely in all directions; "an owl's versatile toe can move backward and forward"; "an insect's versatile antennae can move up and down or laterally"; "a versatile anther of a flower moves freely in the wind"
[adj] changeable or inconstant; "versatile moods"
[adj] competent in many areas and able to turn with ease from one thing to another; "a versatile writer"
[adj] having great diversity or variety; "his various achievements are impressive"; "his vast and versatile erudition"


Websites:

Synonyms: flexible, mobile, skilled, variable, varied, various





Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Definition: \Ver"sa*tile\, a. [L. versatilis, fr. versare to turn
around, v. freq. of vertere: cf. F. versatile. See {Verse}.]
1. Capable of being turned round. --Harte.

2. Liable to be turned in opinion; changeable; variable;
unsteady; inconstant; as versatile disposition.

3. Turning with ease from one thing to another; readily
applied to a new task, or to various subjects; many-sided;
as, versatile genius; a versatile politician.

Conspicuous among the youths of high promise . . .
was the quick and versatile [Charles] Montagu.
--Macaulay.

4. (Nat. Hist.) Capable of turning; freely movable; as, a
versatile anther, which is fixed at one point to the
filament, and hence is very easily turned around; a
versatile toe of a bird. -- {Ver"sa*tile*ly}, adv. -- --
{Ver"sa*tile*ness}, n.



Peer comment(s):

agree sarahl (X)
26 mins
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "thanks"
+7
5 mins

useful and adaptable in different situations

Good luck!
Peer comment(s):

agree David Hollywood : adaptable is the key idea :)
1 hr
thanks, David
agree RHELLER : can be used with people you know well or don't know at all
2 hrs
agree Asghar Bhatti
2 hrs
agree Balaban Cerit
2 hrs
agree Krisztina Lelik
4 hrs
agree Louise Mawbey
4 hrs
agree James Girard : a method is not verstile, which means having the ability to adapt to different situations. A method is indeed adaptable or widely applicable to different situations
6 hrs
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+1
7 mins

Having many uses or applications

From Merriam Webster:

Versatile: Having many uses or applications <a handy, versatile material which you will find as veneer base and drawers in furniture, as cabinets and shelving -- Monsanto Magazine> VERSATILE, can suggest being marked by or showing skill or ability or capacity or usefulness of many different kinds. When applied to things, VERSATILE stresses their multiple and diverse qualities, uses, or possibilities <a versatile student> <a versatile athlete> <versatile interests> <a versatile combat weapon> <a versatile building material
Peer comment(s):

agree Kim Metzger
18 mins
Thanks.
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13 mins

flexible

Can be used with group A or group B or with any group to get the needed results.

just my take
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2 hrs

reversible

variable , changing or fluctuating readily
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