IMPROVISE

improvise, improvize, ad-lib, extemporize, extemporise

(verb) perform without preparation; “he extemporized a speech at the wedding”

improvise, extemporize

(verb) manage in a makeshift way; do with whatever is at hand; “after the hurricane destroyed our house, we had to improvise for weeks”

Source: WordNet® 3.1


Etymology

Verb

improvise (third-person singular simple present improvises, present participle improvising, simple past and past participle improvised)

To make something up or invent it as one goes on; to proceed guided only by imagination, instinct, and guesswork rather than by a careful plan.

Synonyms

• fly by the seat of one's pants, play by ear, punt, think on one's feet, wing it

Source: Wiktionary


Im`pro*vise", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Improvised; p. pr. & vb. n. Improvising.] Etym: [F. improviser, it. improvvisare, fr. improvviso unprovided, sudden, extempore, L. improvisus; pref. im- not + provisus foreseen, provided. See Proviso.]

1. To compose, recite, or sing extemporaneously, especially in verse; to extemporize; also, to play upon an instrument, or to act, extemporaneously.

2. To bring about, arrange, or make, on a sudden, or without previous preparation. Charles attempted to improvise a peace. Motley.

3. To invent, or provide, offhand, or on the spur of the moment; as, he improvised a hammer out of a stone.

Im`pro*vise", v. i.

Definition: To produce or render extemporaneous compositions, especially in verse or in music, without previous preparation; hence, to do anything offhand.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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Word of the Day

14 November 2024

FRISK

(noun) the act of searching someone for concealed weapons or illegal drugs; “he gave the suspect a quick frisk”


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Coffee Trivia

There are more than 50 countries that export coffee. They are near the equator, where the climate is conducive to producing coffee beans.

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