/sliːk/
OriginA late variant of slick; cognate to German schleichen (Old High German slihhan) and Dutch slijk (“mud, slime”). Compare slink.
- Having an even, smooth surface; smooth
“sleek hair”
“So sleek her skin, so faultless was her make.”
- Glossy.
- Not rough or harsh.
“Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek.”
- 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.”
- Healthy, well-fed and well-groomed; in good condition.
- alt-of, datedDated form of slick (“convincing but untrustworthy”).
“'Are these the Carrara marbles?' the lady queried. 'Yes, madam,' responded the sleek salesman.”
- colloquial, dated, not-comparableWith ease and dexterity.
- transitiveTo make smooth or glossy; to polish.
“The sloping brush sleeks the surface.”
- dated, transitiveTo calm or soothe.
- dated, intransitiveTo glide.
- uncountableThat which makes smooth; varnish.
Formssleeker(comparative) · sleekest(superlative) · sleeks(present, singular, third-person) · sleeking(participle, present) · sleeked(participle, past) · sleeked(past)