sliver

[ sliv-er ]

noun

1. a small, slender, often sharp piece, as of wood or glass, split, broken, or cut off, usually lengthwise or with the grain; splinter.
2. any small, narrow piece or portion:

   A sliver of sky was visible.

3. a strand of loose, untwisted fibers produced in carding.

verb (used with object)

1. to split or cut off (a sliver) or to split or cut into slivers:

   to sliver a log into kindling.

2. to form (textile fibers) into slivers.

verb (used without object)

1. to split.

sliver

/ ˈslɪvə /

noun

1. a thin piece that is cut or broken off lengthwise; splinter
2. a loose strand or fibre obtained by carding

verb

1. to divide or be divided into splinters; split
2. tr to form (wool, etc) into slivers

Derived Forms

• ˈsliver-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• sliver·like adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of sliver¹

1325–75; Middle English slivere (noun), derivative of sliven to split, Old English -slīfan (in tōslīfan to split up

Word History and Origins

Origin of sliver¹

C14: from sliven to split

Example Sentences

McDonald's said in a statement that it "identified an alternate supplier" for about 900 restaurants that had "temporarily stopped serving Quarter Pounder burgers with slivered onions".

From BBC

In Italian cuisine, it’s called piccata, which refers to a thin sliver of meat.

From Salon

Like the sliver of sandwiched Chinese territory she has travelled to see, Beijing too is caught between its sanctioned neighbours.

From BBC

It’s incredible to portray whatever sliver of their lives because what they’re doing is incredible.

From Los Angeles Times

Most people reported eating a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder prior to becoming ill, and the Food and Drug Administration focused its investigation on the burger’s beef patties and slivered onions, according to the CDC.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• flake
• fragment
• shaving
• shred
• slice
• snippet