WordGarden.iosliver
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˈslɪvə/Australiannoun
US
- /ˈslɪvər/
Meanings
Noun
a small thin piece cut or broken off from something
a very small amount or trace of something
Verb
to cut or split into thin narrow pieces
Beyond the definition
Imagine a tiny, thin piece of wood under your skin, or a narrow bit cut from something larger. That is a sliver. It is a small, thin piece of something, often long and narrow. It can also mean a very small amount of something abstract, like a sliver of hope in a difficult situation. You might see a sliver of moon through the clouds or feel a sliver of doubt in the back of your mind.
Think of it as a tiny piece that is easy to miss but still noticeable. The word often suggests something thin, narrow, and sometimes sharp. It is common when talking about wood, glass, metal, or anything else that can come off in a thin piece, and it also works well for very small amounts of things like light, time, or hope.
A sliver is a small, thin piece of something, usually one that is long and narrow. It often comes from a larger thing by being cut, broken, split, or shaved off. A sliver of wood in your finger is a classic example, but the word can also be used for thin pieces of glass, metal, or food.
The word usually suggests something very small, and often something sharp or delicate. It is not a large piece or a solid chunk. Instead, it feels slight and narrow. You might talk about a sliver of light coming through a door, a sliver of moon in the night sky, or a sliver of cake cut from the edge.
It is also often used in a figurative way. In that sense, it means a very small amount of something. A sliver of hope, a sliver of doubt, or a sliver of a chance all suggest that only a tiny amount remains.
So the word works in two main ways: for a thin, narrow piece of a physical thing, and for a very small amount of something less physical. In both cases, the idea is the same: something slight, limited, and easy to overlook, but still real enough to matter.
Examples
- 1
Small piece
I got a sliver of glass in my foot while cleaning up the broken bottle.
- 2
Moon shape
A sliver of moon hung above the trees.
- 3
Light
She left the curtain slightly open, and a sliver of light fell across the floor.
- 4
Hope
Even after the interview went badly, he still had a sliver of hope.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Free time
I only have a sliver of free time before my next meeting.
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- slivernounverb
Forms
- sliverspluralnounverb
- sliveredpast tenseverbnoun
- slivering-ing formverbnoun