sliver
[ sliv-er ]
/ ˈslɪv ər /
noun
a small, slender, often sharp piece, as of wood or glass, split, broken, or cut off, usually lengthwise or with the grain; splinter.
any small, narrow piece or portion: A sliver of sky was visible.
a strand of loose, untwisted fibers produced in carding.
verb (used with object)
to split or cut off (a sliver) or to split or cut into slivers: to sliver a log into kindling.
to form (textile fibers) into slivers.
verb (used without object)
to split.
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Nearby words
Origin of sliver
1325–75; Middle English slivere (noun), derivative of sliven to split, Old English -slīfan (in tōslīfan to split up
Related formssliv·er·like, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for sliver
British Dictionary definitions for sliver
sliver
/ (ˈslɪvə) /
noun
a thin piece that is cut or broken off lengthwise; splinter
a loose strand or fibre obtained by carding
verb
to divide or be divided into splinters; split
(tr) to form (wool, etc) into slivers
Derived Formssliver-like, adjective
Word Origin for sliver
C14: from sliven to split
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 sliver
sliver
"splinter of wood," late 14c., from obsolete verb sliven "to split, cleave," from Old English toslifan "to split, cleave" (see sleave).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper