Dictionary

1slick

verb \ˈslik\

: to make (something) smooth and slippery

Full Definition of SLICK

transitive verb
:  to make sleek or smooth
intransitive verb
:  spruce —usually used with up
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Origin of SLICK

Middle English sliken, from Old English *slician; akin to Old High German slīhhan to glide
First Known Use: 14th century

Related to SLICK

2slick

adjective

: very smooth and slippery

: clever in usually a dishonest or deceptive way

: skillful and clever

Full Definition of SLICK

1
a :  having a smooth surface :  slippery <slick wet leaves>
b :  having surface plausibility or appeal :  glossy <slick advertising>
c :  based on stereotype :  trite <slick stories soon forgotten>
2
archaic :  sleek 1
3
a :  characterized by subtlety or nimble wit :  clever; especially :  wily <a slick swindler>
b :  deft, skillful <a slick ballplayer>
4
:  extremely good :  first-rate
slick adverb
slick·ly adverb
slick·ness noun

Origin of SLICK

Middle English slyke; akin to Old English *slician
First Known Use: 14th century

Synonym Discussion of SLICK

sleek, slick, glossy mean having a smooth bright surface or appearance. sleek suggests a smoothness or brightness resulting from attentive grooming or physical conditioning <a sleek racehorse>. slick suggests extreme smoothness that results in a slippery surface <slipped and fell on the slick floor>. glossy suggests a highly reflective surface <photographs having a glossy finish>.

sly, cunning, crafty, wily, tricky, foxy, artful, slick mean attaining or seeking to attain one's ends by guileful or devious means. sly implies furtiveness, lack of candor, and skill in concealing one's aims and methods <a sly corporate raider>. cunning suggests the inventive use of sometimes limited intelligence in overreaching or circumventing <the cunning fox avoided the trap>. crafty implies cleverness and subtlety of method <a crafty lefthander>. wily implies skill and deception in maneuvering <the wily fugitive escaped the posse>. tricky is more likely to suggest shiftiness and unreliability than skill in deception and maneuvering <a tricky political operative>. foxy implies a shrewd and wary craftiness usually involving devious dealing <a foxy publicity man planting stories>. artful implies indirectness in dealing and often connotes sophistication or cleverness <elicited the information by artful questioning>. slick emphasizes smoothness and guile <slick operators selling time-sharing>.

3slick

noun

: a thin layer of liquid that makes a surface very slippery

: a smooth tire that is used in car racing

Full Definition of SLICK

1
a :  something that is smooth or slippery; especially :  a smooth patch of water covered with a film of oil
b :  a film of oil
2
:  an implement for producing a smooth or slick surface
3
:  a shrewd untrustworthy person
4
:  a popular magazine printed on coated stock and intended to appeal to sophisticated readers
5
:  an automobile tire made without a tread for maximum traction (as in drag racing)
6
slang :  a military helicopter without armaments that is used to transport troops or light cargo

First Known Use of SLICK

1849
SLICK Defined for Kids

1slick

verb \ˈslik\
slickedslick·ing

Definition of SLICK for Kids

:  to make sleek or smooth <He slicked his hair.>

2slick

adjective

Definition of SLICK for Kids

1
:  having a smooth surface :  slippery <slick pavement>
2
:  tricky 2 <a slick salesman>
3
:  having skill and cleverness <She made some slick moves during the game.>

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Next Word in the Dictionary: slick–earPrevious Word in the Dictionary: slichtAll Words Near: slick
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