sliver

[sliv-er]

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.

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

/ ˈslɪvə /

noun

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

2. a loose strand or fibre obtained by carding

verb

1. to divide or be divided into splinters; split

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

Other Word Forms

• sliverlike adjective
• sliver-like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sliver¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of sliver¹

C14: from sliven to split

Example Sentences

For all its darkness, Peck insists on leaving a sliver of light.

From Los Angeles Times

Residents in this sliver of land have Moldovan passports and those who crossed the Dniester river to vote are seen as mainly pro-Moscow.

From BBC

The above graph shows Celtic - the team in the slim sliver of white along the bottom - were never really a force going forward despite dominating the ball with 67% possession.

From BBC

We finally slid it next to the stovetop, agreeing to cede a sliver of counter in exchange for the promise of hot, pressed sandwiches.

From Salon

My nails are almost always unpainted, wide and short, my pinky nail practically just a sliver.

From Salon

Related Words

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