slaver

1 of 3

verb

sla·​ver ˈsla-vər  ˈslā-  ˈslä- 

slavered; slavering ˈsla-v(ə-)riŋ 

ˈslā-,

ˈslä-

intransitive verb

: drool, slobber

transitive verb

archaic : to smear with or as if with saliva

slaver

2 of 3

noun (1)

: saliva dribbling from the mouth

slaver

3 of 3

noun (2)

slav·​er ˈslā-vər 

1

a

: a ship used in the slave trade

b

: a person engaged in the slave trade

2

: white slaver

Synonyms

Verb

• drool
• spit
• salivate

Noun (1)

• saliva
• drool

Examples of slaver in a Sentence

Verb

a dog slavering over a bone

Noun (1)

slaver dripped from the snarling dog's jaws

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Sue has no discernible personality or thoughts, but the TV network — led by a slavering man named Harvey (Dennis Quaid) — has hired her for this hosting gig, the moment that will solidify her stardom. —Alissa Wilkinson, New York Times, 1 Jan. 2025

One decorous young professional after another is attacked and transformed into a slavering monster, until at last all the residents converge in the heated pool. —Becca Rothfeld, The New Yorker, 17 Feb. 2024

Noun

In Texas many slavers forcibly moved their enslaved people to hide them from the advancing Union army. —Jenny Singer, Glamour, 18 June 2025

Three-quarters of officers, from both the northern and southern parts of the US, used enslaved servants during their military careers, with southern slavers especially determined to expand slavery within the Army (as elsewhere). —Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 29 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse slafra to slaver; akin to Middle Dutch slabben to slaver

Noun (2)

slave entry 1

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing slaver

• white slaver

Rhymes for slaver

• aver
• braver
• craver
• favor
• favour
• flavor
• flavour
• graver
• paver
• quaver
• raver
• saver

Kids Definition

slaver

1 of 2 verb

sla·​ver ˈslav-ər 

ˈslāv-

slavered; slavering -(ə-)riŋ 

: drool sense 2, slobber

slaver

2 of 2 noun

slav·​er

ˈslā-vər

1

: a person who traffics or holds enslaved people

2

a ship used to traffic enslaved people

Medical Definition

slaver

1 of 2 intransitive verb

sla·​ver ˈslav-ər  ˈslāv-  ˈsläv- 

slavered; slavering -(ə-)riŋ 

: drool

slaver

2 of 2 noun

: saliva dribbling from the mouth