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View synonyms for

slick

[ slik ]

adjective

slicker, slickest.
  1. smooth and glossy; sleek.
  2. smooth in manners, speech, etc.; suave.
  3. sly; shrewdly adroit:

    He's a slick customer, all right.

    Synonyms: , , , , , ,

  4. ingenious; cleverly devised:

    a slick plan to get out of work.

  5. slippery, especially from being covered with or as if with ice, water, or oil.
  6. deftly executed and having surface appeal or sophistication, but shallow or glib in content; polished but superficial:

    a writer who has mastered every formula of slick fiction.



noun

  1. a smooth or slippery place or spot or the substance causing it:

    oil slick.

  2. Informal.
    1. a magazine printed on paper having a more or less glossy finish.
    2. such a magazine regarded as possessing qualities, as expensiveness, chic, and sophistication, that hold appeal for a particular readership, as one whose members enjoy or are seeking affluence.
    3. such a magazine regarded as having a sophisticated, deftly executed, but shallow or glib literary content. Compare pulp ( def 6 ).
  3. any woodworking chisel having a blade more than 2 inches (5 centimeters) wide.
  4. any of various paddlelike tools for smoothing a surface.
  5. Automotive. a wide tire without a tread, used in racing.
  6. Military Slang. a helicopter.
  7. Metallurgy. a small trowel used for smoothing the surface of a mold.

adverb

  1. smoothly; cleverly.

verb (used with object)

  1. to make sleek or smooth.
  2. to use a slicker on (skins or hides).
  3. Informal. to spruce up; make smart or fine (usually followed by up ).

slick

/ ɪ /

adjective

  1. flattering and glib

    a slick salesman

  2. adroitly devised or executed

    a slick show

  3. informal.
    shrewd; sly
  4. informal.
    superficially attractive

    a slick publication

  5. smooth and glossy; slippery
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

noun

  1. a slippery area, esp a patch of oil floating on water
  2. a chisel or other tool used for smoothing or polishing a surface
  3. the tyre of a racing car that has worn treads
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to make smooth or sleek
  2. informal.
    usually foll by up to smarten or tidy (oneself)
  3. often foll by up to make smooth or glossy
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • ˈ, adverb
  • ˈԱ, noun
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Other Word Forms

  • l adverb
  • n noun
  • ܲ· adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of slick1

First recorded before 900 for the verb, 1350–1400 for the adjective; Middle English verb slicke(n), Old English (ī)īǻ “(newly) polished”; Middle English adjective slik(e), slyk(e), from unrecorded Old English slice; cognate with dialectal Dutch sleek “even, smooth”; noun derivative of the verb or adjective; adverb derivative of the adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of slick1

C14: probably of Scandinavian origin; compare Icelandic, Norwegian slikja to be or make smooth
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

For a fast-growing China, Apple became a symbol of advanced Western tech - simple yet original and slick.

From

At that point the Robins were already in front as Mikey lewis, back from injury, showed his magical qualities with a sharp break and slick pass that sent Gildart running clear.

From

The finished dish should be incredibly silky and thick, with perfectly al dente noodles slicked in a rich, lemony sauce.

From

His campaign was notable for its focus on young people - he is 37 - with a strong emphasis on job creation and slick social media videos.

From

With its celebrity managers, high-tempo matches and slick production, Baller League could bridge the gap between sport and entertainment one player says - even if some of the new rules are "nonsense".

From

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slicerslick as a whistle