Word a Day
shirk
What does shirk mean?
shirk (verb): to avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc.; to stay away from.
Definition: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
How do you pronounce shirk?
/ʃɝk/ (IPA, American English). The app reads every word aloud.
Where does shirk come from?
First use appears c. 1633, in the publications of Shackerley Marmion, apparently from association with shark (verb), or otherwise directly from German Schurke (“rogue, knave”).
Etymology: Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Words related to shirk
From Princeton WordNet 3.1.
Test yourself: do you know “shirk”?
Tap an answer to check it. The same questions the app asks.
What does “shirk” mean?
to avoid, especially a duty, responsibility, etc.; to stay away from
Right! That's what “shirk” means.
alter or regulate so as to achieve accuracy or conform to a standard
Not quite: that's what adjust means.
to wander, as from a direct course; to deviate, or go out of the way
Not quite: that's what stray means.
to exert an overwhelming guiding influence over something or someone
Not quite: that's what dominate means.
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