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[1] 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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