Nimble with hands or body; skillful; adept.
"The young monkey proved how clever it was by effortlessly climbing down the slippery vine to grab the ripe fruit."
In plain English: Clever means being smart and quick at finding good solutions to problems.
"The clever dog figured out how to open the cupboard door by himself."
Usage: Use clever to describe someone who shows quick mental agility and resourcefulness in solving problems, rather than physical dexterity alone. Distinguish it from smart by noting that a person can be intelligent without necessarily being witty or inventive in their approach.
A city in Missouri.
"Clever is a small city located in southeastern Missouri known for its historic downtown area."
The word clever began as the Middle English term cliver, meaning tenacious. It traveled into modern usage from an East Anglian dialect where it described someone expert at seizing opportunities.