English Reference

Word

smith

Phoneticssmith

US/ˈsmɪθ/

UK/smˈɪθ/

Definitions

02family name

A2

n. the most common family name in English-speaking countries like the UK and the US.

n. the most frequent surname in the United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia, originating from the occupation.

“Mr. Smith is our new history teacher at the high school.”

“The name Smith is so ubiquitous in English-speaking records that genealogists often find it difficult to distinguish between different family branches.”

03to forge metal

C2

v. to shape metal by heating it and hitting it with a hammer.

v. to forge or shape metal, typically on an anvil, through the application of heat and percussive force.

“The ancient sword was smithed by a master in the mountains.”

“The artisan smithed the glowing iron with rhythmic precision, turning a raw bar into a delicate gate ornament over several hours.”

Literary

Usage

The verb form is much rarer than the noun and is often replaced by 'forge' in modern contexts.

Synonyms

Etymology

From smith or Middle English Smith (“a surname”), alternative form of Smyth, itself from smyth (“smith”). Doublet of Schmidt, Smid, and Smit.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Word family

This entry

Level
A2 · Elementary
Frequency
Very common
Updated

Scan code

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English Reference