sliver
SLIH-vuh
Sliver (noun) means a small, thin, often sharp piece cut or broken off from something larger. Example: “A sliver of wood got stuck under her fingernail.”
noun
1
A small, thin, often sharp piece cut or broken off from something larger.
"A sliver of bone has punctured a lung, and a small surgical operation was needed to remove it (would he like to keep the bone as a memento?--it is in a phial by his bedside)."
— J. M. Coetzee (2013)
"A sliver of wood got stuck under her fingernail."
"He cut a thin sliver of cake for himself."
"This is the tasting ritual, the lay Eucharist of cheese. The buyer squeezes the sliver of cheese between his fingers to test its consistency, sniffs it, and then tastes it as delicately as if it were the most subtle caviar."
— Félix Martí-Ibáñez, The mirror of souls (1972)
How to use sliver
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA thin, narrow piece cut or split off from something bigger.
Common pairings
a sliver of wood
a sliver of light
a sliver of hope
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Word forms
- Plural
- slivers
- Third person singular
- slivers
- Past tense
- slivered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A _____ of wood got stuck under her fingernail.
Etymology
From Middle English "sliver," related to an Old English verb meaning "to split or cleave."
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for sliver
See all rhymes for sliver →Frequently asked questions
What does “sliver” mean?
The word “sliver” means a small, thin, often sharp piece cut or broken off from something larger. In plain terms, a thin, narrow piece cut or split off from something bigger.
How do you pronounce “sliver”?
“Sliver” is pronounced SLIH-vuh (/ˈslɪvɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sliver” in a sentence?
Here is “sliver” used in a sentence: “A sliver of wood got stuck under her fingernail.”
What part of speech is “sliver”?
“Sliver” is a noun.
Where does the word “sliver” come from?
The word “sliver” comes from Old English. From Middle English "sliver," related to an Old English verb meaning "to split or cleave.".
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