sleek en · ADJ
Pronunciation
- (Southern-England) audio
- /sliːk/
Etymology
A late variant of slick; cognate to German schleichen (Old High German slihhan) and Dutch slijk (“mud, slime”). Compare slink.
Meanings
-
Having an even, smooth surface; smooth
sleek hair
So sleek her skin, so faultless was her make.
1717, John Dryden, Samuel Garth, et al., “Book 1”, in Metamorphoses, translation of Metamorphoses by Ovid, line 837:
- Glossy.
-
Not rough or harsh.
Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek.
1673, John Milton, “Sonnet 11”, in Poems, line 10:
-
Slim and streamlined; not plump, thick, or stocky.
But if it were like a rabbit that Rosa went, she came back like a weasel or some such sleek and lissom creature.
1961, Xavier Herbert, Soldiers' Women, Netley, SA: Fontana Books, published 1978, page 99:
- (of stock animals) Healthy, well-fed and well-groomed; in good condition.
-
(alt-of, dated) Dated form of slick (“convincing but untrustworthy”).
alt of slick
'Are these the Carrara marbles?' the lady queried. 'Yes, madam,' responded the sleek salesman.
1892, The Critic, volume 20, page 229:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| sleeker | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic | |
| sleekest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic |
Deriveds
sleekly · sleekness · sleekstone
Synonyms
lithe · slight · silklike · slinky · svelte · smooth · glassy · flat · gaunt · even · svelte · velvety · slick · satiny · sleek · glacé · velutinous · lacquerlike · swack · splendent · silken · silky · vitreous · level · elegant · slickered · sheeny · downy · glacé · willowy · glossy · lank · sylphlike · frictionless · leansome · classy · rangy · lissome · sleek · lean · slight · civilized · graceful · sheeny · lanate · lithe · silky · refined · gracile · lithesome · slim · sleek · frictionless · slender
Translations (44)
cs lesklý (smooth) · cmn 光滑的 (smooth) · nl glad (smooth) · cs elegantní (not rough or harsh) · ru гля́нцевый (smooth) · fr lisse (smooth) · it slanciato (not rough or harsh) · fr brillant (smooth) · pt liso (not rough or harsh) · tr şık (smooth) · de seidig (smooth) · mi mohimohi (smooth) · sv slät (smooth) · bg гладък (smooth) · ru гла́дкий (smooth) · es liso (not rough or harsh) · cho halʋsbi (smooth) · bg лъскав (smooth) · fr luisant (smooth) · sv glatt (smooth) · cs uhlazený (not rough or harsh) · mi tōwāwahi (smooth) · mi ngerungeru (smooth) · fi tasainen (smooth) · mi tōwahiwahi (smooth) · fi sileä (smooth) · es liso (smooth) · cs hladký (smooth) · pl gładki (smooth) · it elegante (smooth) · mi koutata (smooth) · hy ողորկ (smooth) · io glata (smooth) · mi maheni (smooth) · it liscio (smooth) · ru гла́дкий (not rough or harsh) · de glatt (smooth) · fa لخت (smooth) · de geschmeidig (not rough or harsh) · ro neted (smooth) · hu sima (smooth) · it lucido (smooth) · pt suave (smooth) · fr lisse (not rough or harsh)