apt

Meanings

1. 1
   adj

   mentally quick and resourceful

   an apt pupil

2. 2
   adj

   usually followed by "to," naturally disposed toward

   They were apt to do what they were told.

3. 3
   adj

   Suitable; appropriate; fit or fitted; suited.

   an apt metaphor

4. 4
   adj

   Having a habitual tendency; habitually liable or likely; disposed towards.

   This tree, if unprotected, is apt to be stripped of its leaves by a leaf-cutting ant.

5. 5
   adj

   Ready; especially fitted or qualified (to do something); quick to learn.

   a pupil apt to learn

6. 6
   noun

   Abbreviation of apartment.

   Where our apt used to be they built a fancy condominium high-rise. Which at a lowly income none of us could ever really quite afford.

7. 7
   noun

   Initialism of advanced persistent threat.

   The FBI has linked the incident to a North Korean APT it tracks as TraderTraitor, which the agency has been monitoring since 2022 for its attacks on blockchain companies.

8. 8
   adj

   being of striking appropriateness and pertinence

Etymology

From Old French apte, from Latin aptus (“suitable, fitting”). Either from obsolete apere (“to fasten, to join, to fit”), akin to apisci (“to reach, attain”) (compare with Greek ἅπτειν (áptein, “to fasten”) and Sanskrit आप्त (āpta, “fit”), from आप् (āp, “to reach, attain”)) or from *h₂ep- (“to join, fit (in)”).