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

Mom pockets the cash again, looking abashed at Andre’s rejection, and I foolishly feel a sliver of hope that she’s beginning to understand our situation.

From Literature

The excursion the cruise line touted the most, though, was a hot new beach club on a 17-acre sliver of Paradise Island.

From The Wall Street Journal

“And I need to use the bathroom,” I added, saving a sliver of my previous plan.

From Literature

Cold chicken, cold cornbread, sliced tomatoes with thin slivers of onion on top, and her sour pickles.

From Literature

He scooped out a sliver and let it melt on his tongue.

From Literature

Related Words

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