sleek

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English

Etymology

A late variant of slick; cognate to German schleichen (Old High German slihhan) and Dutch slijk (“mud, slime”). Compare slink.

Pronunciation

Adjective

sleek (comparative sleeker, superlative sleekest)

  1. Having an even, smooth surface; smooth
    Synonyms: frictionless, silky; see also Thesaurus:smooth
    sleek hair
  2. Glossy.
    Synonyms: glacé, sheeny; see also Thesaurus:glossy
  3. Not rough or harsh.
    Synonyms: civilized, classy, elegant, graceful, refined
    • 1673, John Milton, “Sonnet 11”, in Poems, line 10:
      Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek.
  4. Slim and streamlined; not plump, thick, or stocky.
    Synonyms: lithe, svelte; see also Thesaurus:slender
  5. Healthy, well-fed and well-groomed; in good condition. (of stock animals)
  6. Dated form of slick (“convincing but untrustworthy”).
    • 1892, The Critic, volume 20, page 229:
      'Are these the Carrara marbles?' the lady queried. 'Yes, madam,' responded the sleek salesman.

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Adverb

sleek (not comparable)

  1. (dated, colloquial) With ease and dexterity.
    Synonyms: clean, slick

Verb

sleek (third-person singular simple present sleeks, present participle sleeking, simple past and past participle sleeked)

  1. (transitive) To make smooth or glossy; to polish.
    • 1895, The New Technical Educator, page 258:
      The sloping brush sleeks the surface.
  2. (transitive, dated) To calm or soothe.
  3. (intransitive, dated) To glide.

Translations

Noun

sleek (uncountable)

  1. That which makes smooth; varnish.

Translations

Anagrams

Scots

Etymology

Variant of slick.

Pronunciation

Adjective

sleek (comparative sleeker, superlative sleekest)

  1. sleek

Verb

sleek (third-person singular simple present sleeks, present participle sleekin, simple past sleekit, past participle sleekit)

  1. to sleek

Descendants

  • → Irish: slíoc
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