slink

[ slingk ]

/ slɪŋk /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR slink ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object), slunk or (Archaic) slank; slunk; slink·ing.

to move or go in a furtive, abject manner, as from fear, cowardice, or shame.

to walk or move in a slow, sinuous, provocative way.

verb (used with object), slunk or (Archaic) slank; slunk; slink·ing.

(especially of cows) to bring forth (young) prematurely.

noun

a prematurely born calf or other animal.

adjective

born prematurely: a slink calf.

Nearby words

Origin of slink

before 1150; Middle English slynken (v.), Old English slincan to creep, crawl; cognate with Low German slinken, German schlinken

SYNONYMS FOR slink

1. skulk, sneak; lurk.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR slink ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsslink·ing·ly, adverbout·slink, verb (used with object), out·slunk, out·slink·ing.un·slink·ing, adjective

Can be confusedsling slink

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for slinking

One such thing is Katie Holmes slinking around in all-black and doing her best Fosse while crooning “Hit Me With a Hot Note.”
‘American Horror Story’ Sings “The Name Game” and 12 Other Bizarre TV Musical Numbers (VIDEO)|Kevin Fallon|January 8, 2013|DAILY BEAST
If anyone can talk Muammar Gaddafi into slinking away from Libya, Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi says it's him.
Gaddafi's Best Friend in Europe|Barbie Latza Nadeau|March 23, 2011|DAILY BEAST
Last May, when the United Nations dispatched Bill Clinton to Haiti, it felt as if Clinton was slinking off the world stage.
Clinton to the Rescue|Bryan Curtis, Benjamin Sarlin|January 14, 2010|DAILY BEAST
He went out of the room with a stealthy, slinking haste, as though he feared lest the self-restraint of his victor might fail.
The Shooting of Dan McGrew, A Novel|Marvin Dana

He described a grim figure, bending low and slinking off along the fence.
The Monster and Other Stories|Stephen Crane
He crawled out—creeping along by the wall, and slinking through the gate—heart-sick and all but heart-dead.
The Manxman|Hall Caine
In a nervous, slinking manner, he drew back behind his curtain.
Everychild|Louis Dodge
Harry, carrying the lamp, entered the room, with Maria slinking at his heels.
By the Light of the Soul|Mary E. Wilkins Freeman

British Dictionary definitions for slinking

slink

/ (slɪŋk) /

verb slinks, slinking or slunk

(intr) to move or act in a furtive or cringing manner from or as if from fear, guilt, etc

(intr) to move in a sinuous alluring manner

(tr) (of animals, esp cows) to give birth to prematurely

noun

an animal, esp a calf, born prematurely
(as modifier)slink veal

Word Origin for slink

Old English slincan; related to Middle Low German slinken to shrink, Old Swedish slinka to creep, Danish slunken limp

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for slinking

slink

Old English slincan "to creep, crawl" (of reptiles), from Proto-Germanic *slinkan (cf. Swedish slinka "to glide," Dutch slinken "to shrink, shrivel;" related to sling (v.)). Of persons, attested from late 14c. Related: Slinked; slinking.

slink

verb (used without object), slunk or (Archaic) slank; slunk; slink·ing.

verb (used with object), slunk or (Archaic) slank; slunk; slink·ing.

noun

adjective

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Nearby words

Origin of slink

Examples from the Web for slinking

slink

verb slinks, slinking or slunk

noun

Word Origin for slink

slink