Definition

1. Noun:

   • A thin fragment or slice: A very small, thin, sharp piece of something, especially wood, glass, or metal, that has broken off.
   • A long, thin piece: A slender, often irregularly shaped piece or strip of a material like wood, cheese, or light.

2. Verb:

   • To form into slivers: To cut, split, or break something into thin, sharp fragments or long, slender pieces.
   • To break up into slivers: For an object to fragment into many thin, sharp pieces.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • A sliver of glass was stuck in his foot.
  • She added a sliver of ginger to the tea.
  • Only a sliver of the moon was visible.

• Verb:

  • He carefully slivered the almond for the garnish.
  • The old wooden beam splintered and slivered under the pressure.

Advanced Usage

• "A sliver of hope/chance/doubt": A very small, fragile amount of something abstract.
  • Despite the bad news, he held onto a sliver of hope.

Variants and Related Words

• Splinter (n/v): A very similar word, often used interchangeably with "sliver" for small, sharp pieces of wood or glass. A splinter often implies something embedded in the skin.
• Shard (n): A sharp fragment, typically of brittle material like glass or pottery.
• Flake (n): A small, flat, thin piece, often of a layered material like paint or snow.

Synonyms

• Noun: Splinter, shard, fragment, chip, flake, shred, sliver.
• Verb: Splinter, shatter, fragment, split, shred.

Related Phrasal Verbs/Constructions

• To sliver off: To break or cut a thin piece away from a larger object.
  • He slivered off a piece of wood to use as a toothpick.

Related Idioms

• Not a sliver of evidence: Not even the smallest amount of proof.
  • The investigation found not a sliver of evidence against him.

Noun

1. a thin fragment or slice (especially of wood) that has been shaved from something
2. a small thin sharp bit or wood or glass or metal
   • he got a splinter in his finger
   • it broke into slivers

Verb

1. form into slivers
   • sliver wood
2. break up into splinters or slivers
   • The wood splintered
3. divide into slivers or splinters