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glib - 7 dictionary results

glib

  [glib]
Use glib in a Sentence
–adjective, glib⋅ber, glib⋅best.
1. readily fluent, often thoughtlessly, superficially, or insincerely so: a glib talker; glib answers.
2. easy or unconstrained, as actions or manners.
3. Archaic. agile; spry.
Origin:
1585–95; cf. obs. glibbery slippery (c. D glibberig)

Related forms:
glibly, adverb
glibness, noun

Synonyms:
1. talkative, loquacious; facile, smooth. See fluent.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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glib   (glĭb)   
adj.   glib·ber, glib·best
  1. Performed with a natural, offhand ease: was fascinated by his unfailingly glib conversation.
  2. Characterized by fluency of speech or writing that often suggests insincerity, superficiality, or a lack of concern.

[Possibly of Low German origin; see ghel-2 in Indo-European roots.]
glib'ly adv., glib'ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean being, marked by, or engaging in ready but often insincere or superficial discourse: a glib denial; a slick commercial; a smooth-tongued hypocrite.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Glib

Glib\, a. [Compar. Glibber; superl. Glibbest.] [Prob. fr. D. glibberen, glippen, to slide, glibberig, glipperig, glib, slippery.]

1. Smooth; slippery; as, ice is glib. [Obs.]

2. Speaking or spoken smoothly and with flippant rapidity; fluent; voluble; as, a glib tongue; a glib speech.

I want that glib and oily art, To speak and purpose not. --Shak.

Syn: Slippery; smooth; fluent; voluble; flippant.

Glib

Glib\, v. t. To make glib. [Obs.] --Bp. Hall.

Glib

Glib\, n. [Ir. & Gael. glib a lock of hair.] A thick lock of hair, hanging over the eyes. [Obs.]

The Irish have, from the Scythians, mantles and long glibs, which is a thick curied bush of hair hanging down over their eyes, and monstrously disguising them. --Spenser.

Their wild costume of the glib and mantle. --Southey.

Glib

Glib\, v. t. [Cf. O. & Prov. E. lib to castrate, geld, Prov. Dan. live, LG. & OD. lubben.] To castrate; to geld; to emasculate. [Obs.] --Shak.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : glib
Spanish: de mucha labia, charlatán, desenvuelto,
German: zungenfertig,
Japanese: 口の達者な
More Translations »

glib 
1593, possibly shortening of obsolete glibbery "slippery," from Low Ger. glibberig "smooth, slippery," from M.L.G. glibberich, from glibber "jelly."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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