SLIVER

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sliver mean? 

• SLIVER (noun)
  The noun SLIVER has 2 senses:

1. a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal

2. a thin fragment or slice (especially of wood) that has been shaved from something

  Familiarity information: SLIVER used as a noun is rare.

• SLIVER (verb)
  The verb SLIVER has 3 senses:

1. divide into slivers or splinters

2. break up into splinters or slivers

3. form into slivers

  Familiarity information: SLIVER used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SLIVER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

sliver; splinter

Context example:

it broke into slivers

Hypernyms ("sliver" is a kind of...):

bit; chip; flake; fleck; scrap (a small fragment of something broken off from the whole)

Derivation:

sliver (form into slivers)

sliver (break up into splinters or slivers)

slivery (resembling or consisting of or embedded with long slender fragments of (especially) wood having sharp points)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A thin fragment or slice (especially of wood) that has been shaved from something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

paring; shaving; sliver

Hypernyms ("sliver" is a kind of...):

fragment (a piece broken off or cut off of something else)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sliver"):

splint (a thin sliver of wood)

turning (a shaving created when something is produced by turning it on a lathe)

Derivation:

sliver (form into slivers)

sliver (divide into slivers or splinters)

slivery (resembling or consisting of or embedded with long slender fragments of (especially) wood having sharp points)

• SLIVER (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they sliver    ... he / she / it slivers   
Past simple: slivered   
Past participle: slivered   
-ing form: slivering   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Divide into slivers or splinters

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

sliver; splinter

Hypernyms (to "sliver" is one way to...):

carve up; dissever; divide; separate; split; split up (separate into parts or portions)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

sliver (a thin fragment or slice (especially of wood) that has been shaved from something)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Break up into splinters or slivers

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

sliver; splinter

Context example:

The wood splintered

Hypernyms (to "sliver" is one way to...):

break up; fragment; fragmentise; fragmentize (break or cause to break into pieces)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Derivation:

sliver (a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Form into slivers

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

sliver wood

Hypernyms (to "sliver" is one way to...):

form; shape (give shape or form to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

sliver (a thin fragment or slice (especially of wood) that has been shaved from something)

sliver (a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal)

 Context examples 

I fed it, shaving by shaving, and sliver by sliver, till at last it was snapping and crackling as it laid hold of the smaller chips and sticks.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)