slick Meaning & Definition
What Does Slick Mean?
As an adjective, slick means Slippery or smooth due to a covering of liquid; often used to describe appearances. It can also mean Sleek; smooth. As a noun, it means A covering of liquid, particularly oil. As a verb, it means To make slick.
Slick: Key Facts
| Part of speech | adjective, noun, verb, adverb |
|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /slɪk/ |
| Synonyms | cunning, artful and glib |
| Plural | slicks |
| Comparative / superlative | slicker, slickest |
| Verb forms | slicks, slicking, slicked |
Slick Definition (Adjective)
- Slippery or smooth due to a covering of liquid; often used to describe appearances.
This rain is making the roads slick.
- Sleek; smooth.
- Appearing expensive or sophisticated.
They read all kinds of slick magazines.
- Superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy.
That new sales rep is slick. Be sure to read the fine print before you buy anything.
- Clever, making an apparently hard task look easy.
Our new process for extracting needles from haystacks is extremely slick.
- Extraordinarily great or special.
That is one slick bicycle: it has all sorts of features!
Slick as a Noun
- A covering of liquid, particularly oil.
Careful in turn three — there's an oil slick on the road.
- A rapidly-expanding ring of dark water, resembling an oil slick, around the site of a large underwater explosion at shallow depth, marking the progress through the water of the shock wave generated by the explosion.
- Someone who is clever and untrustworthy.
- A tool used to make something smooth or even.
- A tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern, often used in auto racing.
You'll go much faster if you put on slicks.
- A helicopter.
- A camera-ready image to be used by a printer. The "slick" is photographed to produce a negative image which is then used to burn a positive offset plate or other printing device.
The project was delayed because the slick had not been delivered to the printer.
- A glossy magazine.
- A wide paring chisel used in joinery.
- In omegaverse fiction, the copious, lubricating bodily fluid produced by an omega in heat.
- A silver coin that has been worn to the point its surface feels smooth to the touch.
Slick as a Verb
- To make slick.
The surface had been slicked.
Slick as an Adverb
- Alternative form of sleek (“with ease and dexterity”).
Noun
- Alternative form of schlich.
Adjective
- (often used sarcastically) Clever, making an apparently hard task easy.
Our new process for extracting needles from haystacks is extremely slick.
Noun
- The finer portion of crushed ore, as of gold, lead, or tin, separated by the water in certain wet processes.
Synonyms of Slick
Slick in a Sentence
This rain is making the roads slick.
The top coating of lacquer gives this finish a slick look.
His large round head was shaved slick.
They read all kinds of slick magazines.
That new sales rep is slick. Be sure to read the fine print before you buy anything.
Our new process for extracting needles from haystacks is extremely slick.
That was a slick move, locking your keys in the car.
That is one slick bicycle: it has all sorts of features!
Careful in turn three — there's an oil slick on the road.
The oil slick has now spread to cover the entire bay, critically endangering the sea life.
You'll go much faster if you put on slicks.
The project was delayed because the slick had not been delivered to the printer.
The surface had been slicked.
Word Forms & Grammar
slick (comparative slicker, superlative slickest)
slick (plural slicks)
slick (third-person singular simple present slicks, present participle slicking, simple past and past participle slicked)
slick (not comparable)
slick
Words That Rhyme With Slick
Origin of Slick
Origin 1: From Middle English slicke, slike, slyke, from Old English slīc (“sleek, smooth; crafty, cunning, slick”), from Proto-Germanic *slīkaz (“sleek, smooth”), from Proto-Indo-European *sleyg-, *sleyǵ- (“to glide, smooth, spread”).
Origin 2: Akin to Dutch sluik, dialectal Dutch sleek (“even, smooth”), Old Norse slíkr (“sleek, smooth”), Old English slician (“to make sleek, smooth, or glossy”).
Quick Answers About Slick
Is slick an adjective or a noun?
Slick is mainly used as an adjective, but it can also be used as a noun, a verb and an adverb.
What is another word for slick?
You can replace slick with words such as cunning, artful and glib. See the full list of slick synonyms and antonyms.
What is the plural of slick?
The plural of slick is slicks.
What is the past tense of slick?
The past tense of slick is slicked. The present participle is slicking.
What are the comparative and superlative forms of slick?
The comparative form is slicker and the superlative form is slickest.