释义 |
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2024in•gen•ious /ɪnˈdʒinyəs/USA pronunciation adj. - showing cleverness;
resourceful:an ingenious mechanic. in•gen•ious•ly, adv. in•gen•ious•ness, n. [uncountable]See -gen-. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2024in•gen•ious (in jēn′yəs),USA pronunciation adj. - characterized by cleverness or originality of invention or construction:an ingenious machine.
- cleverly inventive or resourceful:an ingenious press agent.
- [Obs.]
- intelligent;
showing genius. - ingenuous.
- Latin ingeniōsus, equivalent. to ingeni(um) natural disposition, cleverness (in- in-2 + gen- (base of gignere to bring into being; compare genitor) + -ium -ium) + -ōsus -ous
- late Middle English 1375–1425
in•gen′ious•ly, adv. in•gen′ious•ness, n. - 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged bright, gifted, able, resourceful; adroit.
- 2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged unskillful.
Ingenious and ingenuous are now distinct from each other and are not synonyms. Ingenious means "characterized by cleverness'' or "cleverly inventive,'' as in contriving new explanations or methods:an ingenious device; ingenious designers.Ingenuous means "candid'' or "innocent'':an ingenuous and sincere statement; a thug with the ingenuous eyes of a choirboy. |