slit

noun \ ˈslit \

Updated on: 14 Apr 2018

Definition of slit

: a long narrow cut or opening

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slit

adjective

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slitless

play \ˈslit-ləs\ adjective

See slit defined for English-language learners

Examples of slit in a Sentence

You could see through the slit in the fence.
The skirt has a slit on one side.
a dress with a slit skirt

Recent Examples of slit from the Web

Thigh-high slits showcase shades of fuchsia from head-to-toe and a monochromatic fashion moment is meta right now.

— hannah miller, Seventeen, "All the Ways to Rock Converse To Prom," 5 Apr. 2018
Like many people who have been backstabbed or throat-slit, what Angela seems to want – even more than revenge – is to heal the wound.

— stephen fishbach, PEOPLE.com, "Stephen Fishbach's Survivor Blog: Why 'Strategy Is So Situational and So Personal'," 28 Mar. 2018
And whereas early x-ray ghost images were simple pictures of slits cut into metal, the Chinese group produced outlines of a seashell and of initials etched into metal plates.

— sophia chen, Science | AAAS, "X-ray ‘ghost images’ could cut radiation doses," 28 Mar. 2018
Cured and lifted out of the molds, the thin elastomer layers were studded with rows of offset slits.

— david grossman, Popular Mechanics, "Ancient Paper Cutting Techniques and 3D Printing Help Make a Bandage That Can Actually Stay on Your Knee," 28 Mar. 2018
The few competitors at this stage will build improbable bridges under their very feet and sprout brick citadels with arrow slits for snipers to see through.

— steven strom, Ars Technica, "Fortnite brings out the 10-year-old fort builder in all of us," 17 Mar. 2018
Lupita Nyong'o showed UP to the Oscars red carpet in a gold chainmail Versace number with a very high leg slit.

— lauren adhav, Cosmopolitan, "Lupita Nyong'o Is Actually Dripping in Gold in This Chainmail Versace Dress," 5 Mar. 2018
In makeshift bunkers — one of them formerly a blind woman’s bedroom that was reinforced with concrete — slits have been gouged into the stonework, offering killers a view of the surrounding streets.

— louisa loveluck, Washington Post, "Beirut civil war museum is haunting, but few Lebanese want to disturb the ghosts," 14 Jan. 2018
Then the flouncy movement of its delicate fabric and its knee-high peekaboo slit.

— chelsea peng, Marie Claire, "How Crocs Got Chic—and Changed the Flow of Fashion," 13 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'slit.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of slit

Middle English, from slitten

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 12th century

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slit Synonyms

Synonyms

gash, incision, laceration, rent, rip, slash, tear;

Related Words

abrasion, score, scrape, scratch;

injury, wound;

crack, fracture, rupture, snag;

slit

verb

Definition of slit

slit; slitting

transitive verb

1 a : to make a slit in

b : to cut off or away : sever

c : to form into a slit

2 : to cut into long narrow strips

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slitter

noun

See slit defined for English-language learners

See slit defined for kids

Examples of slit in a Sentence

I slit the bag open at the top.
The bag of seeds had been slit open.

Recent Examples of slit from the Web

Pounds is accused of slitting McMahan's throat at the apartment, where Pounds and another suspect, Raymond Ray Hirsch, allegedly went to buy or use drugs, according to a report from KTAB in Abilene.

— dana burke, Houston Chronicle, "Texas murder suspect tracked to Friendswood home by police," 26 Mar. 2018
After Greenlaw was shot, Hebb watched as Doughty raped and stabbed O’Connor and slit her throat, officials have said.

— danny mcdonald, BostonGlobe.com, "FBI returns to Peabody site of gruesome double slaying," 27 Mar. 2018
Loveless ordered Sharer to tell the truth about stealing the girlfriend or have her throat slit.

— justin l. mack, Indianapolis Star, "Woman convicted in 1992 slaying of 12-year-old Shanda Renee Sharer is released from prison," 11 Jan. 2018
With small pairing knife, cut small slit in top of each popover.

— the good housekeeping test kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Sweet Cocoa Popovers," 2 Nov. 2015
Interior minister Gerard Collomb said the attacker had fled the station after slitting the throat of the first young woman, before returning to fatally stab the other victim in the stomach.

— Houston Chronicle, "Memorial Villages Police report," 12 Mar. 2018
Not by hanging himself or slitting his wrists, but by living so close to the edge.

— National Geographic, "Two Men Set Out To Find Borneo’s Jungle Tribes. One Never Came Back.," 10 Mar. 2018
This isn’t even to mention the violence, which begins with immolation and ends with nails being driven into eyeballs, and features a whole lot of slashing, beating, and throat-slitting in between.

— sophie gilbert, The Atlantic, "Hard Sun Is Almost Impressively Demented," 7 Mar. 2018
Priyanka Fernando, who was in uniform, making a throat-slitting gesture to Tamil protesters gathered there, which many saw as a threat.

— mujib mashal and dharisha bastians, New York Times, "Sri Lanka Declares State of Emergency After Mob Attacks on Muslims," 6 Mar. 2018

Origin and Etymology of slit

Middle English slitten; akin to Middle High German slitzen to slit, Old High German slīzan to tear apart, Old English sciell shell — more at shell

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year