extemporise

English

WOTD – 11 December 2006

Alternative forms

• extemporize (mostly US)

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /əkˈstɛmpəɹaɪz/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

• Audio (AU)

  (file)

Verb

extemporise (third-person singular simple present extemporises, present participle extemporising, simple past and past participle extemporised)

1. (intransitive) To do something, particularly to perform or speak, without prior planning or thought; to act in an impromptu manner; to improvise.
2. (intransitive) To do something in a makeshift way.
3. (transitive) To make or create ex tempore.
4. (transitive, music) To compose extemporaneously or improvise.

Related terms

• extemporaneous
• extemporaneously
• extemporisation / extemporization

See also

• off the cuff
• off the top of one's head

Anagrams

• exposimeter