supple
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sup·ple
(sŭp′əl)adj. sup·pler, sup·plest
1. Readily bent, folded, or manipulated; pliant: a wallet made of supple leather. See Synonyms at flexible.
2. Moving and bending with agility; limber: a supple gymnast.
3. Adaptable to changing circumstances: "The supple ambiguities of English are a large part of its genius" (Mark Abley).
tr. & intr.v. sup·pled, sup·pling, sup·ples
To make or become supple.
[Middle English souple, from Old French, from Latin supplex, suppliant; see plāk- in Indo-European roots.]
sup′ple·ness n.
sup′ply, sup′ple·ly adv.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
supple
(ˈsʌpəl)adj
1. bending easily without damage
2. capable of or showing easy or graceful movement; lithe
3. mentally flexible; responding readily
4. disposed to agree, sometimes to the point of servility
vb
rare to make or become supple
[C13: from Old French souple, from Latin supplex bowed]
ˈsuppleness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
sup•ple
(ˈsʌp əl)adj. -pler, -plest, adj.
1. bending readily without breaking, splitting, etc.; pliant; flexible.
2. characterized by ease in bending; limber; lithe: supple movements.
3. characterized by mental responsiveness and adaptability.
4. compliant or yielding.
5. obsequious; servile.
v.t., v.i. 6. to make or become supple.
[1250–1300; < Old French < Latin supplex submissive, suppliant =sup- sup- + -plic-, perhaps the base of plicāre to fold1]
sup′ple•ness, n.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
supple
Past participle: suppled
Gerund: suppling
Imperative |
---|
supple |
supple |
Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Verb | 1. | supple - make pliant and flexible; "These boots are not yet suppled by frequent use" |
Adj. | 1. | supple - moving and bending with ease graceful - characterized by beauty of movement, style, form, or execution |
2. | supple - (used of e.g. personality traits) readily adaptable; "a supple mind"; "a limber imagination" flexible - capable of being changed; "flexible schedules" | |
3. | supple - (used of persons' bodies) capable of moving or bending freely |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
supple
adjective
1. pliant, flexible, pliable, plastic, bending, elastic, rubbery, bendable, stretchable The leather is supple and sturdy enough to last for years.
pliant firm, stiff, rigid, taut, inflexible, unyielding, unbending
pliant firm, stiff, rigid, taut, inflexible, unyielding, unbending
2. flexible, lithe, limber, lissom(e), loose-limbed Paul was incredibly supple and strong.
flexible stiff, awkward, inflexible, creaky (informal), graceless, unsupple
flexible stiff, awkward, inflexible, creaky (informal), graceless, unsupple
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
supple
adjective1. Capable of being shaped, bent, or drawn out, as by hammering or pressure:
2. Capable of withstanding stress without injury:
Physics: plastic.
3. Easily altered or influenced:
4. Capable of adapting or being adapted:
5. Willing to carry out the wishes of others:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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Spanish / Español
supple
[ˈsʌpl] ADJ [body, leather] → flexible; [joint, limb] → ágil; [skin] → suavethis will keep your skin supple → esto mantendrá tu piel suave
to keep o.s. supple → mantenerse flexible
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
supple
(ˈsapl) adjectiveˈsuppleness nounKernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
supple
adj flexible, ágilEnglish-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.