adj · adv · name · noun · verb · 31 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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/slɪk/
Australia:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
rhymes with -ɪk
CMU ARPABET:S L IH1 K
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
adj
Meaning 1
Slippery or smooth due to a covering of liquid; often used to describe appearances.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
This rain is making the roads slick.
The top coating of lacquer gives this finish a slick look.
His large round head was shaved slick.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
adj
Meaning 2
Sleek; smooth.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
adj
Meaning 3
Appearing expensive or sophisticated.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
They read all kinds of slick magazines.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
4
adj
Meaning 4
Superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
That new sales rep is slick. Be sure to read the fine print before you buy anything.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: glib
Antonyms: none provided
5
adj
Meaning 5
Clever, making an apparently hard task look easy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: often, sarcastic
Examples
Our new process for extracting needles from haystacks is extremely slick.
That was a slick move, locking your keys in the car.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
6
adj
Meaning 6
Extraordinarily great or special.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US
Qualifier: West Coast slang
Examples
That is one slick bicycle: it has all sorts of features!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
7
adv
Meaning 7
Alternative form of sleek (“with ease and dexterity”).
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
8
name
Meaning 8
A term of address, generally applied to males, possibly including strangers, implying that the person addressed is slick in the sense of "sophisticated", but often used sarcastically.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
That was a great move locking your keys in the car, Slick.
Don't you look good tonight, Slick!
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
9
noun
Meaning 9
A covering of liquid, particularly oil.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Examples
Careful in turn three — there's an oil slick on the road.
The oil slick has now spread to cover the entire bay, critically endangering the sea life.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
10
noun
Meaning 10
A rapidly-expanding ring of dark water, resembling an oil slick, around the site of a large underwater explosion at shallow depth, marking the progress through the water of the shock wave generated by the explosion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: US, slang
Topics: government, military, politics, war
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
15
noun
Meaning 15
A camera-ready image to be used by a printer. The "slick" is photographed to produce a negative image which is then used to burn a positive offset plate or other printing device.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Topics: media, printing, publishing
Examples
The project was delayed because the slick had not been delivered to the printer.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
16
noun
Meaning 16
A glossy magazine.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Topics: media, publishing
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
17
noun
Meaning 17
A wide paring chisel used in joinery.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
18
noun
Meaning 18
In omegaverse fiction, the copious, lubricating bodily fluid produced by an omega in heat.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
Topics: lifestyle
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
19
noun
Meaning 19
A silver coin that has been worn to the point its surface feels smooth to the touch.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: slang
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
20
noun
Meaning 20
Alternative form of schlich.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: alt-of, alternative
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
21
verb
Meaning 21
To make slick.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
having a smooth, gleaming surface reflecting light
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
glossy auburn hair
satiny gardenia petals
sleek black fur
silken eyelashes
silky skin
a silklike fabric
slick seals and otters
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: satiny, sleek, silken, silky, silklike
Antonyms: none provided
24
adjective satellite
Meaning 24
having only superficial plausibility
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
glib promises
a slick commercial
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: glib, pat
Antonyms: none provided
25
adjective satellite
Meaning 25
made slick by e.g. ice or grease
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
sidewalks slick with ice
roads are slickest when rain has just started and hasn't had time to wash away the oil
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
26
noun
Meaning 26
a trowel used to make a surface slick
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: trowel
27
noun
Meaning 27
a film of oil or garbage floating on top of water
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: film
Narrower terms: oil slick
28
noun
Meaning 28
a slippery smoothness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
he could feel the slickness of the tiller
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: slickness, slipperiness, slip
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: smoothness
29
noun
Meaning 29
a magazine printed on good quality paper
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: slick magazine, glossy
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: magazine, mag
30
verb
Meaning 30
give a smooth and glossy appearance
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
slick one's hair
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: slick down, sleek down
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: comb, comb out, disentangle
31
verb
Meaning 31
make slick or smooth
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: sleek
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: polish, smooth, smoothen, shine
History
Etymology
From Middle English slicke, slike, slyke, from Old English slīc (“sleek, smooth; crafty, cunning, slick”), from Proto-Germanic *slīkaz (“sleek, smooth”), from Proto-Indo-European *sleyg-, *sleyǵ- (“to glide, smooth, spread”). Akin to Dutch sluik, dialectal Dutch sleek (“even, smooth”), Old Norse slíkr (“sleek, smooth”), Old English slician (“to make sleek, smooth, or glossy”).
Across languages
Translations
105 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Bulgarian:
плъзгав
(plǎzgav)
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Czech:
kluzký
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Finnish:
liukas
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
French:
glissant
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
German:
glitschig
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Hungarian:
síkos
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Hungarian:
csúszós
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Hungarian:
fényes
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Italian:
sdrucciolevole
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Italian:
viscido
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Japanese:
ギトギトな
(gito-gito na)
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Japanese:
つるつるな
(tsuru-tsuru na)
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Latvian:
slidens
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Russian:
ско́льзкий
(skólʹzkij)
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Slovak:
kĺzky
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Slovak:
šmykľavý
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Spanish:
resbaladizo
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Turkish:
kaygan
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Welsh:
slic
— slippery due to a covering of liquid
Czech:
hladký
— sleek, smooth
Hungarian:
sima
— sleek, smooth
Bulgarian:
лъскав
(lǎskav)
— appearing expensive or sophisticated
German:
gekonnt
— appearing expensive or sophisticated
Hungarian:
elegáns
— appearing expensive or sophisticated
Hungarian:
tipp-topp
— appearing expensive or sophisticated
Spanish:
elegante
— appearing expensive or sophisticated
Spanish:
pulido
— appearing expensive or sophisticated
Spanish:
sofisticado
— appearing expensive or sophisticated
Turkish:
ustaca
— appearing expensive or sophisticated
Bulgarian:
повърхностен
(povǎrhnosten)
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Czech:
úlisný
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Czech:
vemlouvavý
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Czech:
mazaný
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Finnish:
lipevä
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
German:
schlau
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Hungarian:
dörzsölt
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Hungarian:
ravasz
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Ingrian:
lippiä
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Italian:
falso
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Russian:
ско́льзкий
(skólʹzkij)
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Russian:
хи́трый
(xítryj)
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Spanish:
liso
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Spanish:
ingenioso pero insubstancial
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Spanish:
hábil
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Spanish:
que tiene mucha labia
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Spanish:
labioso
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Turkish:
cerbezeli
— superficially convincing but actually untrustworthy
Bulgarian:
изкусен
(izkusen)
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Czech:
vybroušený
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Czech:
vychytaný
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Czech:
propracovaný
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Czech:
bravurní
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Finnish:
näppärä
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Finnish:
taitava
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Hungarian:
ügyes
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Hungarian:
ravasz
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Hungarian:
cseles
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Hungarian:
furfangos
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Hungarian:
hatékony
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Italian:
scaltro
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Russian:
ло́вкий
(lóvkij)
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Russian:
хи́трый
(xítryj)
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Russian:
у́мный
(úmnyj)
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Spanish:
astuto
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
Turkish:
akıllıca
— clever, making an apparently hard task easy
German:
raffiniert
— (US West Coast slang) extraordinarily great or special
German:
schlau
— (US West Coast slang) extraordinarily great or special
Hungarian:
klassz
— (US West Coast slang) extraordinarily great or special
Hungarian:
szuper
— (US West Coast slang) extraordinarily great or special
Swedish:
schyst
— (US West Coast slang) extraordinarily great or special
Turkish:
kurnazca
— (US West Coast slang) extraordinarily great or special
Catalan:
marea negra
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Dutch:
slijk
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Finnish:
öljyläikkä
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Finnish:
öljylautta
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Finnish:
läikkä
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Finnish:
lautta
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
French:
nappe
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
German:
Schlick
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
German:
Ölschlick
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
German:
Ölteppich
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Hungarian:
olajréteg
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Hungarian:
olajfolt
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Irish:
leo
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Korean:
기름띠
(gireumtti)
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Russian:
разлив
(razliv)
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Russian:
пятно́
(pjatnó)
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Russian:
плёнка
(pljónka)
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Spanish:
marea negra
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Welsh:
stremp
— covering of liquid, particularly oil
Dutch:
slick
— tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern
Finnish:
sileä rengas
— tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern
Finnish:
sliksi
— tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern
French:
pneu lisse
— tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern
Galician:
pneumático liso
— tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern
Hungarian:
sima felületű gumiabroncs
— tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern
Italian:
slick
— tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern
Russian:
слик
(slik)
— tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern
Spanish:
neumático liso
— tire with a smooth surface instead of a tread pattern
Czech:
ulízat
— make slick with substance
Czech:
uhladit
— make slick with substance
Hungarian:
simít
— make slick with substance
Hungarian:
lesimít
— make slick with substance
Japanese:
ギトギトする
(gito-gito suru)
— make slick with substance
Japanese:
つるつるする
(tsuru-tsuru suru)
— make slick with substance
