sleek

¹sleek

verb \ˈslēk\

Definition of SLEEK

transitive verb

1

: slick <grooms sleeking cooled horses — Sunset>

2

: to cover up : gloss over

intransitive verb

: slick

Origin of SLEEK

Middle English sleken, alteration of sliken — more at slick

First Known Use: 15th century

Rhymes with SLEEK

beak, bleak, cheek, chic, cleek, clique, creak, creek, Creek, eke, flic, freak, geek, gleek, Greek, keek, leak, leek, meek, peak, peek, peke, pic, pique, reek, screak, seek, sheikh, shriek, sic, Sikh, sneak, speak, squeak, steek, streak, streek, teak, tweak, weak, week

²sleek

adjective

Definition of SLEEK

1

a : smooth and glossy as if polished <sleek dark hair>

b : having a smooth well-groomed look <sleek cattle>

c : healthy-looking

2

: smooth in speech or manner; also : unctuous

3

a : having a prosperous air <sleek luxury condominiums>

b : having trim graceful lines <a sleek car>

c : elegant, stylish <a sleek wardrobe>

— sleek·ly adverb

— sleek·ness noun

Examples of SLEEK

1. the sleek lines of a sports car
2. <a striking beauty with sleek raven hair>

Origin of SLEEK

alteration of ²slick

First Known Use: 1578

Related to SLEEK

Synonyms

buffed, burnished, glistening, lustrous, polished, rubbed, satin, satiny, glossy

Antonyms

dim, dull, flat, lusterless, matte (also mat or matt)

Related Words

brushed, eggshell, semigloss, semilustrous; silken, silky, slick, slippery; glassy, glazed, lacquered, shellacked, varnished; gleaming, glittering, reflective, shining

Near Antonyms

lackluster; unvarnished

Synonym Discussion of SLEEK

sleek, slick, glossy mean having a smooth bright surface or appearance. sleek suggests a smoothness or brightness resulting from attentive grooming or physical conditioning <a sleek racehorse>. slick suggests extreme smoothness that results in a slippery surface <slipped and fell on the slick floor>. glossy suggests a highly reflective surface <photographs having a glossy finish>.