sleek

¹ American  

[sleek] / slik /

adjective

sleeker, sleekest

1. smooth or glossy, as hair, an animal, etc.

2. well-fed or well-groomed.

3. trim and graceful; finely contoured; streamlined.

   a sleek sports car.

4. smooth in manners, speech, etc.; suave.

5. cleverly or deceitfully skillful; slick.

   a sleek confidence man.

   Synonyms:

   slippery, shady, glib, shrewd, artful, smooth, refined, polished

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sleek ² American  

[sleek] / slik /

Also sleeken

verb (used with object)

1. to make sleek; smooth; slick.

   to sleek leather.

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sleek British  

/ sliːk /

adjective

1. smooth and shiny; polished

2. polished in speech or behaviour; unctuous

3. (of an animal or bird) having a shiny healthy coat or feathers

4. (of a person) having a prosperous appearance

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verb

1. to make smooth and glossy, as by grooming, etc

2. (usually foll by over) to cover (up), as by making more agreeable; gloss (over)

Other Word Forms

• sleeker noun
• sleekly adverb
• sleekness noun
• sleeky adjective

Etymology

Origin of sleek¹

First recorded in 1580–90; variant of slick

Origin of sleek²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English sleken, variant of slick

Example Sentences

I stare at my reflection in the water and see what I always see: strong, muscled shoulders, sleek, long legs.

From Literature

The vessels have a deeper draught - the amount of hull below the waterline - than most CalMac ships, allowing for a sleeker, more fuel efficient shape.

From BBC

Before taking time off, the band had settled into making sleek, shimmery retro-disco tracks like Dynamite and Butter - designed to appeal to the sort of listener who finds Bruno Mars too crass and abrasive.

From BBC

They had brought scraps from garbage pails and even tidbits from their own scanty plates smuggled past watchful mothers, and Mr. Hashbaz had remained sleek and fat.

From Literature

Two sleek hide canoes were drawn up out of the water.

From Literature

Related Words

• glistening
• polished
• satin
• shiny
• silky