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sleek

 - 4 dictionary results

sleek

1  [sleek]
–adjective, -er, -est.
1. smooth or glossy, as hair, an animal, etc.
2. well-fed or well-groomed.
3. trim and graceful; finely contoured; streamlined: a sleek sports car.
4. smooth in manners, speech, etc.; suave.
5. cleverly or deceitfully skillful; slick: a sleek confidence man.
Use sleek in a Sentence
Origin:
1580–90; var. of slick 1

Related forms:
sleekly, adverb
sleekness, noun

Synonyms:
5. smooth, suave.

sleek

2  [sleek]
–verb (used with object)
to make sleek; smooth; slick: to sleek leather.
Also, sleeken.

Origin:
1400–50; late ME sleken, var. of slick 2

Related forms:
sleeker, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2010.
Cite This Source Link To sleek
sleek   (slēk)   
adj.   sleek·er, sleek·est

  1. Smooth and lustrous as if polished; glossy: brushed her hair until it was sleek.

  2. Well-groomed and neatly tailored.

  3. Healthy or well-fed; thriving.

  4. Polished or smooth in manner, especially in an unctuous way; slick.

tr.v.   sleeked, sleek·ing, sleeks

  1. To make sleek; slick: sleeked his hair with pomade.

  2. To gloss over; conceal.


[Variant of slick.]
sleek'ly adv., sleek'ness n.
Synonyms: These adjectives mean having a smooth gleaming surface: sleek black fur; glossy auburn hair; satiny gardenia petals; silken butterfly wings; silky skin; slick otters.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
Word Origin & History

sleek  (adj.)
1589, variant of M.E. slike (see slick). Originally of healthy-looking animal hair; applied to persons 1637, with sense of "plump and smooth-skinned."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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