sliver

B2 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈslɪv.ɚ/ UK /ˈslɪv.ə(ɹ)/ See IPA manual

Minimal pairs

Sounds like slither /ð/ vs /v/

verb noun Freq #28139

Meanings

1

noun
A thin, narrow piece cut or broken off something.

She cut a tiny sliver of cheese to taste it.
2

noun
A small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or metal.

A sliver of glass got stuck in his foot.
3

verb
To cut or break something into thin pieces.

He slivered the almonds for the cake.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a thin, narrow piece cut or... shaving slice splinter

2 noun · a small, thin, sharp piece... splinter

3 verb · to cut or break something... splinter

Word family

Forms slivers

Derived forms slivercastingsliverlikesliverousslivery

Related forms chum slither

Etymology

From Middle English slivere, sliver from Middle English sliven (“to cut, cleave, split”), from Old English slīfan (as in tōslīfan (“to split, split up”)).

sliver Middle English sliven Middle English slīfan Old English

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Topics

Describing Qualities Materials & Substances

# sliver

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** verb, noun
**IPA (US):** ˈslɪv.ɚ
**IPA (UK):** ˈslɪv.ə(ɹ)
**Frequency rank:** 28139

## Meanings
1. A thin, narrow piece cut or broken off something.
2. A small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or metal.
3. To cut or break something into thin pieces.

## Examples
- She cut a tiny sliver of cheese to taste it.
- A sliver of glass got stuck in his foot.
- He slivered the almonds for the cake.

## Derived Forms
- slivercasting
- sliverlike
- sliverous
- slivery

## Related Forms
- chum
- slither

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: sliver
- Root: sliven
- Root: slīfan

## Etymology
From Middle English slivere, sliver from Middle English sliven (“to cut, cleave, split”), from Old English slīfan (as in tōslīfan (“to split, split up”)).

## AI Etymology
Sliver is from Middle English slivere, sliver from Middle English sliven (“to cut, cleave, split”), from Old English slīfan (as in tōslīfan (“to split, split up”)). Important forms in the word's history include Middle English sliver, Middle English sliven, Old English slīfan. In current use it includes senses such as A thin, narrow piece cut or broken off something and A small, thin, sharp piece of wood, glass, or metal.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities
- Materials & Substances

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sliver

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