skirt

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C] a piece of clothing for a woman or girl that hangs from the waist: a long / short / straight / pleated skirt 2 [C] (also skirts) [pl.] the part of a dress, coat, etc. that hangs below the waist 3 [C] an outer covering or protective part for the base of a vehicle or machine: the rubber skirt around the bottom of a hovercraft verb 1 to be or go around the edge of sth: [VN] They followed the road that skirted the lake. * They skirted the forest and emerged on to a path. * [V] I skirted around the field and crossed the bridge. 2 ~ (around / round sth) to avoid talking about a subject, especially because it is difficult or embarrassing: [VN] He carefully skirted the issue of where they would live. * [V] She tactfully skirted around the subject of money.