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

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

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

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

gill slit
an opening through which water passes over an aquatic animal's gills

Noun + noun

Simplified etymology

Slit is an Old English word from a Germanic source also underlying French esclice, “splinter,” from which English slice developed. Slate ultimately belongs to the same word family.

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

External links

# 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

markdown