adj
Uncommon
slick
slihk
Slick (adj) means Smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid. Example: “The road was slick with rain, so she slowed down.”
adj
1
Smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid.
"The road was slick with rain, so she slowed down."
"The wet leaves made the pavement slick, so we walked carefully."
"Her hands were slick with soap and the glass slipped away."
2
Impressively smooth and polished in style, sometimes to the point of seeming untrustworthy.
"The salesman gave a slick pitch that felt just a little too polished."
"It was a slick presentation, full of graphics and confident soundbites."
noun
1
A layer of oil or another liquid spread across a surface.
"An oil slick spread across the bay after the tanker ran aground."
"A thin slick of grease floated on top of the soup."
"Volunteers worked for days to clean the slick from the shoreline."
How to use slick
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSmooth and slippery in the literal sense, or impressively polished (sometimes suspiciously so) in the figurative sense.
Common mistake
Calling someone "slick" can be a compliment (clever, smooth) or a subtle insult (untrustworthy) depending on tone — context matters.
Common pairings
oil slick
slick presentation
slick talker
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Word forms
- Plural
- slicks
- Third person singular
- slicks
- Past tense
- slicked
- Comparative
- slicker
- Superlative
- slickest
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The road was _____ with rain, so she slowed down.
Etymology
From Old English slīc, "sleek, smooth, crafty," tracing to a Germanic root meaning "to glide, smooth, spread."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for slick
See all rhymes for slick →Frequently asked questions
What does “slick” mean?
The word “slick” means smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid. In plain terms, smooth and slippery in the literal sense, or impressively polished (sometimes suspiciously so) in the figurative sense.
How do you pronounce “slick”?
“Slick” is pronounced slihk (/slɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “slick” in a sentence?
Here is “slick” used in a sentence: “The road was slick with rain, so she slowed down.”
What part of speech is “slick”?
Depending on how it is used, “slick” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “slick” come from?
The word “slick” comes from Old English. From Old English slīc, "sleek, smooth, crafty," tracing to a Germanic root meaning "to glide, smooth, spread.".
Is “slick” a common word?
“Slick” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “slick” have?
“Slick” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid.
What is the difference between the literal and figurative meanings of 'slick'?
The literal meaning of 'slick' describes something smooth and slippery, often because of a coating of liquid, such as a slick road. The figurative meaning describes something impressively smooth and polished in style, sometimes to the point of seeming untrustworthy, such as a slick salesman.
Is 'slick' a compliment or a criticism?
It depends on context: 'slick' can be a compliment describing something impressively polished and professional, such as slick design, or a mild criticism suggesting someone is too smooth or polished to be fully trusted.
What is an oil slick?
An oil slick is a layer of oil spread across a surface, typically water, using the noun sense of 'slick' meaning a layer of liquid coating a surface.
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