sleek

A late variant of slick; cognate to German schleichen (Old High German slihhan) and Dutch slijk (“mud, slime”). Compare slink.

• IPA^(key): /sliːk/

  • Audio (RP)

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• Rhymes: -iːk

sleek (comparative sleeker, superlative sleekest)

1. Having an even, smooth surface; smooth

   sleek hair

   Synonyms: frictionless, silky; see also Thesaurus:smooth

   • 1717, Dryden, John; Garth, Samuel; et al, “Book 1”, in Metamorphoses, translation of Metamorphoses by Ovid, line 837:

     So sleek her skin, so faultless was her make.

2. Glossy.

   Synonyms: glacé, sheeny; see also Thesaurus:glossy

3. Not rough or harsh.

   Synonyms: civilized, classy, elegant, graceful, refined

   • 1673, Milton, John, “Sonnet 11”, in Poems, line 10:

     Those rugged names to our like mouths grow sleek.

4. Slim and streamlined; not plump, thick, or stocky.

   Synonyms: lithe, svelte; see also Thesaurus:slender

5. (of stock animals) Healthy, well-fed and well-groomed; in good condition.

• sleekly
• sleekness
• sleekstone

sleek (comparative more sleek or sleeker, superlative most sleek or sleekest)

1. (dated) With ease and dexterity.

sleek (third-person singular simple present sleeks, present participle sleeking, simple past and past participle sleeked)

1. To make smooth or glossy; to polish or cause to be attractive.

sleek (uncountable)

1. That which makes smooth; varnish.

• Keels, Klees, Leske, Selke, elkes, keels, leeks, skeel

Variant of slick.

• IPA^(key): /slik/

sleek (comparative sleeker, superlative sleekest)

1. sleek

sleek (third-person singular simple present sleeks, present participle sleekin, simple past sleekit, past participle sleekit)

1. to sleek