noun / verb
smart
A sharp feeling of pain or emotional hurt.
The cut smarts when she rinses it under the tap.
Etymology
The older word means sharp or painful. The noun preserves that sting, extended from bodily pain to emotional hurt.
More examples
- His cruel remark still smarted days later.
- My eyes are smarting from the smoke.
- A sharp smart followed the sting.
Forms
smart · smarts · smarted · smarting