sliver

American  

[sliv-er] / ˈslɪv ər /

noun

1. a small, slender, often sharp piece, as of wood or glass, split, broken, or cut off, usually lengthwise or with the grain; splinter.

2. any small, narrow piece or portion.

   A sliver of sky was visible.

3. a strand of loose, untwisted fibers produced in carding.

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verb (used with object)

1. to split or cut off (a sliver) or to split or cut into slivers.

   to sliver a log into kindling.

2. to form (textile fibers) into slivers.

verb (used without object)

1. to split.

sliver British  

/ ˈslɪvə /

noun

1. a thin piece that is cut or broken off lengthwise; splinter

2. a loose strand or fibre obtained by carding

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verb

1. to divide or be divided into splinters; split

2. (tr) to form (wool, etc) into slivers

Other Word Forms

• sliver-like adjective
• sliverlike adjective

Etymology

Origin of sliver

1325–75; Middle English slivere (noun), derivative of sliven to split, Old English -slīfan (in tōslīfan to split up

Example Sentences

The crucified Christ has been taken down from the cross, but there is no cross, no ladder—only a single cloud and a tiny sliver of earth to ground the composition.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 27, 2026

They must avoid setting a new record if they are going to survive, with relegation rivals West Ham's 2-0 defeat at Aston Villa the sliver of hope needed on a wretched afternoon.

From BBC • Mar. 22, 2026

London was a sliver ahead, but other European stock markets dipped.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

This week, Michelle is supporting Cedric — just a sliver, she said, of the way he has supported her.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 16, 2026

I look at Shoji—his eyes flick up from his hidden book for a sliver of a moment.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman

Related Words

• flake
• fragment
• shaving
• shred
• slice
• snippet