slit

C2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈslɪt/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like sleet /ɪ/ vs /iː/

Freq #8115

Meanings

1

noun
a long narrow opening

A narrow slit in the wall admitted a line of light.
2

noun
a narrow fissure

A narrow slit in the wall admitted a line of light.
3

noun
a depression scratched or carved into a surface

A narrow slit in the wall admitted a line of light.
4

verb
cut a slit into

slit the throat of the victim

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a long narrow opening cleft

3 noun · a depression scratched or... incision

Word family

Derived forms arrowsliteyeslitmicroslitnanoslitpiss-slitpreslitslit-eyedslit-gongslit-scanslit-shellslitlessslitlet

Etymology

From Middle English slitten, from Old English slītan, from Proto-Germanic *slītaną (“to tear apart”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leyd- (“to tear, rend (cut apart), split apart”). Possibly cognate with Latin laed- (“to strike, hurt, injure”). Doublet of slite; also related to slice through French borrowing. Apparently unrelated to English slot, whose etymology, however, is uncertain.

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# slit

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C2
**Part of speech:** noun, verb
**IPA (US):** /ˈslɪt/
**Frequency rank:** 8115

## Meanings
1. a long narrow opening
2. a narrow fissure
3. a depression scratched or carved into a surface
4. cut a slit into

## Examples
- A narrow slit in the wall admitted a line of light.
- A narrow slit in the wall admitted a line of light.
- A narrow slit in the wall admitted a line of light.
- slit the throat of the victim

## Synonyms
- cleft
- incision

## Derived Forms
- arrowslit
- eyeslit
- microslit
- nanoslit
- piss-slit
- preslit
- slit-eyed
- slit-gong
- slit-scan
- slit-shell
- slitless
- slitlet

## Etymology
From Middle English slitten, from Old English slītan, from Proto-Germanic *slītaną (“to tear apart”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)leyd- (“to tear, rend (cut apart), split apart”). Possibly cognate with Latin laed- (“to strike, hurt, injure”). Doublet of slite; also related to slice through French borrowing. Apparently unrelated to English slot, whose etymology, however, is uncertain.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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slit

Meanings

Thesaurus

Common collocations

Etymology

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