Library / English Dictionary

SHIRK

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Avoid dealing with

Example:

She shirks her duties

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "shirk" is one way to...):

avoid (stay clear from; keep away from; keep out of the way of someone or something)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Avoid (one's assigned duties)

Example:

The derelict soldier shirked his duties

Synonyms:

fiddle; goldbrick; shirk; shrink from

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "shirk" is one way to...):

avoid (refrain from doing something)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "shirk"):

scrimshank (British military language: avoid work)

malinger; skulk (avoid responsibilities and duties, e.g., by pretending to be ill)

slack (avoid responsibilities and work, be idle)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

shirker (a person who shirks his work or duty (especially one who tries to evade military service in wartime))

shirking (the evasion of work or duty)

Credits