slick

[ slik ]

adjective

, slick·er, slick·est.

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

   He's a slick customer, all right.

   Synonyms: superficial, shallow, glib, sharp, foxy, tricky, wily

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.

7. Slang. wonderful; fantastic; first-rate.

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

/ slɪk /

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

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

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

Derived Forms

• ˈslickly, adverb
• ˈslickness, noun

Other Words From

• slickly adverb
• slickness noun
• un·slicked adjective

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 (nīw)slīcod “(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

Word History and Origins

Origin of slick¹

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

Example Sentences

Even without much precipitation, it can turn slick out there.

From Washington Post

Some scientists called Gertrude’s introduction a slick publicity stunt, full of unachievable promises.

From Science News

Her hair has been in the same slicked-down style for about a month.

From Washington Post

Express forecastForecast in detailLight wintry precipitation, ending this morning, may leave a few slick spots north and west of town, but we turn toward sunshine and relative warmth during the afternoon.

From Washington Post

Keep an eye out for a couple of slick patches as it gets cold again tonight.

From Washington Post

Officials also had received reports of loud bangs—called in by fishermen—and an oil slick.

From The Daily Beast

If your ears are tired of slick auto-tuned vocals, pick up this disk for an aural detox.

From The Daily Beast

Dressed in a slick black suit, Chapman discovers, say, how people come to be millionaires.

From The Daily Beast

Within 12 hours an oil slick is spotted, along with some wreckage.

From The Daily Beast

He licked them up with a slick bronzy tongue and spat a thick wad of honey-brown juice into the empty teacup.

From The Daily Beast

I was goin' to slick up and drop around to see her, but this here Injun agent got in ahead of me.

From Project Gutenberg

A moonhead can say a slick thing once in a while and be none the worse, but darned if a clever chap can cut didoes.

From Project Gutenberg

"It was a pretty slick way that you caught us," began the mate, lounging near Hal as he stood on deck.

From Project Gutenberg

Jed's a mighty slick hand with the pasteboards, but he meets his boss in your Uncle Ephraim.

From Project Gutenberg

It's slick he calls me, but I'll bet me life he's been playing a slick game of his own with ye.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• deft
• glib
• sharp
• shrewd
• skillful
• sly
• smooth
• sophisticated