Dictionary

slippery en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈslɪpəɹi/
• /ˈslɪpɹi/
• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English slipperie, an extended form ( + -y) of Middle English slipper, sliper (“slippery”), from Old English slipor (“slippery”), from Proto-Germanic *slipraz (“smooth, slippery”), equivalent to slip + -er. Compare also Middle English slibbri, slubbri (“slippery”) borrowed from Middle Dutch or Middle Low German slibberich (“slippery”). Cognate with German schlüpfrig (“slippery”), Danish slibrig (“slippery”), Swedish slipprig (“slippery”).

Meanings

1. Of a surface, having low friction, often due to being covered in a non-viscous liquid, and therefore hard to grip, hard to stand on without falling, etc.
   • The screeching of brakes, the monotonous blare of motor horns, the clip-clip of shoes on slippery pavements, the rustling of wet mackintoshes were all part of the great metropolis. 1936, F.J. Thwaites, chapter XXII, in The Redemption, Sydney: H. John Edwards, published 1940, page 214:
   • Oily substances render things slippery.
2. (broadly, figuratively) Evasive; difficult to pin down.
   • a slippery promise
   • a slippery person
3. (obsolete) Liable to slip; not standing firm.
   • Which when they fall, as being slippery standers, / The love that leaned on them, as slippery too, / Do one pluck down another, and together / Die in the fall. c. 1602 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Troylus and Cressida”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene iii], line 84:
4. Unstable; changeable; inconstant.
   • He looking down With scorn or pity on the slippery state Of kings, will tread upon the neck of fate. 1641 (first performance), [John Denham], The Sophy. […], 2nd edition, London: […] J[ohn] M[acock] for H[enry] Herringman, […], published 1667, →OCLC, (please specify the page):
5. (obsolete) Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals.
   • My wife is slippery? If thou wilt confess – c. 1610–1611 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Winters Tale”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act I, scene ii], line 273:

Forms

Antonyms

nonslip · adhesive · nonslippery · sticky

Deriveds

sloppery · slippery slide · slippery nipple · slipperily · slipperiness · slippery elm · slippery sequence · slippery slope · slippery dip · Slippery Sam · slippery jack · slippery as an eel · unslippery · nonslippery · slippery dick

Hypernyms

smooth · wet

Hyponyms

rain-slickened · water-slickened · sloppery

Relateds

slip

Synonyms

slippy · gliddery · wet · slimy · slidey · slippery · sliddery · slithery · slithery · greasy · slippy · slidder · greasy · lubricous · slidy · slimy · slick · lubric · glidder · slippery as an eel · glibbery · slabbery · slick · lubricious · slape

Translations (126)

ka მოლიპული (of a surface) · es resbaladizo (of a surface) · ja 滑りやすい (of a surface) · th ลื่น (of a surface) · it scivoloso (of a surface) · az sürüşkən (of a surface) · sh klizav (of a surface) · el ολισθηρός (of a surface) · my ချော (of a surface) · ko 미끄럽다 (of a surface) · hy սայթաքուն (of a surface) · mi pākehokeho (of a surface) · pt escorregadio (of a surface) · ga sciorrach (of a surface) · nrf drissant (of a surface) · grc ὀλισθηρός (of a surface) · vi trơn (of a surface) · id licin (of a surface) · bg плъ́згав (of a surface) · chr ᏓᏫᏍᎬᎯ (of a surface) · nb glatt (evasive; difficult to pin down) · tr kaygan (of a surface) · eo glitiga (of a surface) · mi māniania (of a surface) · uk ковзки́й (of a surface) · ga sliopach (of a surface) · ca lliscant (of a surface) · mk лизгав (of a surface) · ru ско́льзкий (of a surface) · grc ἀρισφᾰλής (evasive; difficult to pin down) · nb glatt (of a surface) · mi hāwaniwani (of a surface) · ka სრიალა (of a surface) · de aalglatt (evasive; difficult to pin down) · fi liukas (of a surface) · nb sleip (of a surface) · cnk bädete (of a surface) · mrw malindeg (of a surface) · izh liukas (of a surface) · ast esnidiosu (of a surface) · bg хлъ́згав (of a surface) · mn хальтиргаатай (of a surface) · es escurridizo (evasive; difficult to pin down) · mdh malindeg (of a surface) · gl escorredío (of a surface) · it sdrucciolevole (of a surface) · ckb خلیسک (of a surface) · mi pārengorengo (of a surface) · he חָלָק (of a surface) · nb sleip (evasive; difficult to pin down) · pl śliski (of a surface) · gl esvaradío (of a surface) · pam mataluras (of a surface) · be слі́зкі (of a surface) · ru ско́льзкий (evasive; difficult to pin down) · he חלקלק (of a surface) · de rutschig (of a surface) · uk слизьки́й (of a surface) · eo glita (of a surface) · sv hal (of a surface) · nv nahateeł (of a surface) · fa لیز (of a surface) · fr glissant (of a surface) · lld liz (of a surface) · et libe (of a surface) · es resbaloso (of a surface) · unm shòxsi (of a surface) · grc γλίσχρος (of a surface) · hu csúszós (of a surface) · kix tǖnūonūo (of a surface) · cs kluzký (of a surface) · he מחליק (of a surface) · gd sleamhainn (of a surface) · nrf êcrîliant (of a surface) · li glaad (of a surface) · ro alunecos (of a surface) · ba тайғаҡ (of a surface) · cmn 滑 (of a surface) · ang slipor (of a surface) · hi रपटीला (of a surface) · ga sleamhain (evasive; difficult to pin down) · mi mania (of a surface) · ka ლიპი (of a surface) · ar زَلِق (of a surface) · nn glatt (evasive; difficult to pin down) · bg уклончив (evasive; difficult to pin down) · ga sleamhain (of a surface) · ru увёртливый (evasive; difficult to pin down) · mi pāremoremo (of a surface) · cmn 滑頭滑腦 /滑头滑脑 (evasive; difficult to pin down) · cho halʋsbi (of a surface) · la lubricus (evasive; difficult to pin down) · bcl mahalnas (of a surface) · be ко́ўзкі (of a surface) · nn glatt (of a surface) · mi peopeo (of a surface) · mi pāhekeheke (of a surface) · gl escorregadizo (of a surface) · pt liso (evasive; difficult to pin down) · km រអិល (of a surface) · sk klzký (of a surface) · eu labaingarriak (of a surface) · nl glibberig (of a surface) · izh lippiä (of a surface) · pam matalusad (of a surface) · ltg sleideigs (of a surface) · lo ລ່ຽນ (of a surface) · la lūbricus (of a surface) · sl spolzek (of a surface) · unm shòxe (of a surface) · tl madulas (of a surface) · haw kika (of a surface) · da glat (of a surface) · de glitschig (of a surface) · mi pānekeneke (of a surface) · hi फिसलाऊ (of a surface) · ast esnidiu (of a surface) · km រឥល (of a surface) · lv slidens (of a surface) · nl glad (of a surface) · sh клизав (of a surface) · bg увъртащ (evasive; difficult to pin down) · mn гөлгөр (of a surface) · es escurridizo (of a surface) · lt slidus (of a surface) · uk сковзки́й (of a surface)