sliver

1 of 2

noun

sliv·​er ˈsli-vər 

 sense 2 is usually  ˈslī-

1

a

: a long slender piece cut or torn off : splinter

b

: a small and narrow portion

a sliver of land

c

: particle, scrap

not a sliver of evidence

2

: an untwisted strand or rope of textile fiber produced by a carding or combing machine and ready for drawing, roving, or spinning

sliver

2 of 2

verb

sliv·​er ˈsli-vər 

slivered; slivering ˈsli-və-riŋ 

ˈsliv-riŋ

transitive verb

: to cut into slivers : splinter

intransitive verb

: to become split into slivers

Synonyms

Noun

• chip
• flake
• spall
• splint
• splinter

Verb

• slice
• splinter

Examples of sliver in a Sentence

Noun

I got a sliver of wood stuck in my finger.

Verb

carefully slivered the rattan stems into strips for basketry

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

For dessert, find an almond cake, topped with blood orange supremes, almond slivers and powdered sugar served over a silky creme Anglaise. —Bahar Anooshahr, The Arizona Republic, 11 July 2024

Around 18 percent is occasionally observable on Earth thanks to inconsistencies in the moon’s movement, slight twists and turns that show off slivers of the far side surface. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 11 July 2024

Verb

Edmonton made it 3-0 and mashed the mute button on the home fans when McDavid from an extreme side angle somehow slivered the puck by Sergei Bobrovsky. —Greg Cote, Miami Herald, 19 June 2024

Each bite is loaded with bacon, cheddar cheese, and slivered almonds. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Feb. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English slivere, from sliven to slice off, from Old English -slīfan; akin to Old English -slǣfan to cut

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1605, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Kids Definition

sliver

1 of 2 noun

sliv·​er ˈsliv-ər 

1

: a long slender piece cut or torn off : splinter

2

: a small and narrow portion

a sliver of pie

sliver

2 of 2 verb

slivered; slivering

ˈsliv-(ə-)riŋ

: to cut or form into slivers : splinter