different between clumsy vs deficient

English

Etymology

Possibly from an alteration of clumsed (“benumbed”) or from clumse (“a stupid fellow; lout”) +? -y. More at clumse.

Pronunciation

• (UK, US) IPA^(key): /?kl?mzi/

Adjective

clumsy (comparative clumsier, superlative clumsiest)

1. Awkward, lacking coordination, not graceful, not dextrous.

   He's very clumsy. I wouldn't trust him with carrying the dishes.

2. Not elegant or well-planned, lacking tact or subtlety.

   It is a clumsy solution, but it might work for now.

   What a clumsy joke...

3. Awkward or inefficient in use or construction, difficult to handle or manage especially because of shape.

Translations

Noun

clumsy (plural clumsies)

1. (informal, fairly rare) A clumsy person.
   • 1934, P. L. Travers, Mary Poppins

     “Well, you are a clumsy,” said Ellen, as she bent down to mop up the water. “That was for your father’s shaving.”

Synonyms

• butterfingers
• galoot
• klutz

Translations

See also

• clumsies

Anagrams

• cumyls, muscly

English

Etymology

From Latin deficiens, present participle of deficere (“to lack, fail, be wanting”); see defect.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /d??f???nt/
• Rhymes: -???nt

Adjective

deficient (comparative more deficient, superlative most deficient)

1. Lacking something essential; often construed with in.
2. Insufficient or inadequate in amount.
3. (mathematics) Of a number n, Having the sum of divisors ?(n)<2n, or, equivalently, the sum of proper divisors (or aliquot sum) s(n)<n.

Related terms

• defect
• defection
• defective
• defector
• deficiency
• deficit

Translations

Further reading

• deficient in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• deficient in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Catalan

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin d?fici?ns.

Pronunciation

• (Balearic) IPA^(key): /d?.fi.si?ent/
• (Central) IPA^(key): /d?.fi.si?en/
• (Valencian) IPA^(key): /de.fi.si?ent/

Adjective

deficient (masculine and feminine plural deficients)

1. deficient

Related terms

• deficiència

Further reading

• “deficient” in Diccionari de la llengua catalana, segona edició, Institut d’Estudis Catalans.

Latin

Verb

d?ficient

1. third-person plural future active indicative of d?fici?

Romanian

Etymology

From French déficient

Adjective

deficient m or n (feminine singular deficient?, masculine plural deficien?i, feminine and neuter plural deficiente)

1. deficient

Declension