sleek

¹

[ sleek ]

adjective

, sleek·er, sleek·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.

   Synonyms: slippery, shady, glib, shrewd, artful, smooth, refined, polished

sleek

²

[ sleek ]

verb (used with object)

1. to make sleek; smooth; slick:

   to sleek leather.

sleek

/ sliːk /

adjective

1. smooth and shiny; polished
2. polished in speech or behaviour; unctuous
3. (of an animal or bird) having a shiny healthy coat or feathers
4. (of a person) having a prosperous appearance

verb

1. to make smooth and glossy, as by grooming, etc
2. usually foll by over to cover (up), as by making more agreeable; gloss (over)

Derived Forms

• ˈsleeky, adjective
• ˈsleekness, noun
• ˈsleekly, adverb

Other Words From

• sleekly adverb
• sleekness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleek¹

First recorded in 1580–90; variant of slick

Origin of sleek²

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English sleken, variant of slick

Word History and Origins

Origin of sleek¹

C16: variant of slick

Example Sentences

The foremost trendsetter of Scandi-sleek design and New Nordic food knows no limit to its progressive reputation.

From The Daily Beast

With a sleek look and perfect pour, the Axium is the decanter of choice for serving red wine during the cold winter months.

From The Daily Beast

But early vampire myths were a far cry from the sleek, cloaked version Stoker described.

From The Daily Beast

The sleek, peanut-shell sized device slips on near the collarbone.

From The Daily Beast

If ESPN is a sleek bachelor pad, ESPNW is the cottage next door filled with Activia and ultra-soft toilet paper.

From The Daily Beast

Sleek finds it far harder work than fortune-making; but he pursues his Will-o'-the-Wisp with untiring energy.

From Project Gutenberg

You have waxed fat and sleek in your seneschalship; this easy life in Dauphiny appears to have been well suited to your health.

From Project Gutenberg

He thought that he saw a sleek rounded head closely covered by a black silk hood.

From Project Gutenberg

She did not perceive that she was talking like her father as the sleek geldings ambled in review before them.

From Project Gutenberg

Kip Burland also recognized the handsome, energetic man with the sleek black hair and small, waxed mustache.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• glistening
• polished
• satin
• shiny
• silky