DICT.TW Dictionary Taiwan

 awk·ward /ˈɔkwɚ/
 (a.)笨拙的,不熟練的;使用不便的;尷尬的;難處理的

 Awk·ward a.
 1. Wanting dexterity in the use of the hands, or of instruments; not dexterous; without skill; clumsy; wanting ease, grace, or effectiveness in movement; ungraceful; as, he was awkward at a trick; an awkward boy.
    And dropped an awkward courtesy.   --Dryden.
 2. Not easily managed or effected; embarrassing.
    A long and awkward process.   --Macaulay.
    An awkward affair is one that has gone wrong, and is difficult to adjust.   --C. J. Smith.
 3. Perverse; adverse; untoward. [Obs.] “Awkward casualties.” “Awkward wind.”
    O blind guides, which being of an awkward religion, do strain out a gnat, and swallow up a cancel.   --Udall.
 Syn: -- Ungainly; unhandy; clownish; lubberly; gawky; maladroit; bungling; inelegant; ungraceful; unbecoming.
 Usage: -- Awkward, Clumsy, Uncouth. Awkward has a special reference to outward deportment. A man is clumsy in his whole person, he is awkward in his gait and the movement of his limbs. Clumsiness is seen at the first view. Awkwardness is discovered only when a person begins to move. Hence the expressions, a clumsy appearance, and an awkward manner. When we speak figuratively of an awkward excuse, we think of a lack of ease and grace in making it; when we speak of a clumsy excuse, we think of the whole thing as coarse and stupid. We apply the term uncouth most frequently to that which results from the lack of instruction or training; as, uncouth manners; uncouth language.
 -- Awk*ward*ly adv. -- Awk*ward*ness, n.
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 awkward
      adj 1: causing inconvenience; "they arrived at an awkward time"
      2: lacking grace or skill in manner or movement or performance;
         "an awkward dancer"; "an awkward gesture"; "too awkward
         with a needle to make her own clothes"; "his clumsy
         fingers produced an awkward knot" [ant: graceful]
      3: difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape;
         "an awkward bundle to carry"; "a load of bunglesome
         paraphernalia"; "clumsy wooden shoes"; "the cello, a
         rather ungainly instrument for a girl" [syn: bunglesome,
          clumsy, ungainly]
      4: not elegant or graceful in expression; "an awkward prose
         style"; "a clumsy apology"; "his cumbersome writing
         style"; "if the rumor is true, can anything be more inept
         than to repeat it now?" [syn: clumsy, cumbersome, inapt,
          inept, ill-chosen]
      5: hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment;
         "awkward (or embarrassing or difficult) moments in the
         discussion"; "an awkward pause followed his remark"; "a
         sticky question"; "in the unenviable position of resorting
         to an act he had planned to save for the climax of the
         campaign" [syn: embarrassing, sticky, unenviable]
      6: not at ease socially; unsure and constrained in manner;
         "awkward and reserved at parties"; "ill at ease among
         eddies of people he didn't know"; "was always uneasy with
         strangers" [syn: ill at ease(p), uneasy]