Word
sliver
Phoneticssliv·er, stress on the first syllable
/ˈsɫɪvɝ/
Definition
n. a very thin, narrow piece of something, like a piece of wood or metal. In fishing, it can also mean a small amount of food or bait.
n. a thin, narrow strip or fragment of a material, such as wood, metal, or plastic. In a nautical or fishing context, it refers to a small quantity of food or bait.
Examples
“He caught a small fish using a tiny sliver of bread.”
“The old wooden boat was held together by a few thin slivers of oak that had been nailed into the hull.”
“The captain noticed a sliver of moonlight reflecting off the water, which helped him navigate the narrow channel during the early hours of the morning.”
Examples
simple
“He caught a small fish using a tiny sliver of bread.”
contextual
“The old wooden boat was held together by a few thin slivers of oak that had been nailed into the hull.”
complex
“The captain noticed a sliver of moonlight reflecting off the water, which helped him navigate the narrow channel during the early hours of the morning.”
Etymology
From Middle English slivere, sliver from Middle English sliven (“to cut, cleave, split”), from Old English slīfan (as in tōslīfan (“to split, split up”)).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/sliver