Slippery — Slip per*y, a. [See {Slipper}, a.] 1. Having the quality opposite to adhesiveness; allowing or causing anything to slip or move smoothly, rapidly, and easily upon the surface; smooth; glib; as, oily substances render things slippery. [1913… … The Collaborative International Dictionary of English
slippery — having a slippery surface, c.1500, from M.E. sliper (adj.), from O.E. slipor slippery (see SLIP (Cf. slip) (v.)) + Y (Cf. y) (2). Metaphoric sense of deceitful is first recorded 1550s. Related: Slipperiness. In a figurative sense, slippery slope… … Etymology dictionary
slippery — [slip′ər ē, slip′rē] adj. slipperier, slipperiest [altered < ME sliper, slippery < OE slipor, akin to MHG slupferic: for IE base see SLIP1] 1. causing or liable to cause sliding or slipping, as a wet, waxed, or greasy surface 2. tending to… … English World dictionary
slippery — [adj1] smooth, slick glacé, glassy, glazed, glistening, greasy, icy, like a skating rink*, lubricious, lustrous, perilous, polished, satiny, silky, sleek, slimy, soapy, unctuous, unsafe, unstable, unsteady, waxy, wet; concept 606 Ant. dry,… … New thesaurus
slippery — index deceptive, elusive, evasive, insecure, machiavellian, perfidious, precarious, sly, undependable … Law dictionary
slippery — ► ADJECTIVE 1) difficult to hold firmly or stand on through being smooth, wet, or slimy. 2) (of a person) evasive and unpredictable. 3) (of a word or concept) changing in meaning according to context or point of view. DERIVATIVES slipperiness… … English terms dictionary
slippery — adj. VERBS ▪ be, feel, look ▪ become, get ▪ The concrete gets slippery when it s wet. ▪ make sth … Collocations dictionary
slippery — slip|per|y [ˈslıpəri] adj [Date: 1500 1600; Origin: slipper slippery (11 19 centuries), from Old English slipor] 1.) something that is slippery is difficult to hold, walk on etc because it is wet or ↑greasy ▪ In places, the path can be wet and… … Dictionary of contemporary English
slippery — adjective 1 something that is slippery is difficult to hold, walk on etc because it is wet or greasy: Be careful! The floor s very slippery. 2 informal someone who is slippery cannot be trusted and usually manages to avoid being punished:… … Longman dictionary of contemporary English
slippery — UK [ˈslɪpərɪ] / US [ˈslɪp(ə)rɪ] adjective Word forms slippery : adjective slippery comparative slipperier superlative slipperiest 1) a slippery surface, object etc is difficult to move on or to hold because it is smooth, wet, or covered in… … English dictionary
