SLITHER


Meaning of SLITHER in English

I. ˈslithə(r) verb

( slithered ; slithered ; slithering -th(ə)riŋ ; slithers )

Etymology: Middle English slideren, slitheren, from Old English sliderian, slidrian, freq. of slīdan to slide

intransitive verb

1.

a. : to slide on or as if on a loose gravelly surface

the sharp stones which were loosened as his toe caps slithered over them — Fred Majdalany

b. : to move or proceed by slipping or sliding

learnt to skate, slithering over the five miles to and fro along the frozen … road — H.W.Nevinson

horse-drawn sleds slithered across the snowy pavement — Truman Capote

2. : to walk or move in a sinuous undulating way : glide

a slithering sinister creature who snakes her way out from her table — Leland Miles

the brown trout slithered among the shallow stones — W.C.Williams

the traditional ticker tape slithered down on the marching men — Time

transitive verb

1. : to cause to slide

the wind had slithered them through that narrow gap — Marguerite Lyon

2. : to thin and taper (the hair) with upward strokes of a cutting edge along a small strand

II. noun

( -s )

1. : loose gravel : rubble

cascaded the great talus of slither and reached the surf-belt of shingle — Christopher Morley

2.

a. : the act or an instance of sliding : a gliding or slipping movement

a slither of his right foot on the wet pavement — Liam O'Flaherty

was through the door with the smooth slither of a weasel — J.H.Wheelwright

b. : a sound produced by or as if by a smooth gliding movement

the soft slither of the fountain in the sunk garden — Mary Austin

heard the rush and slither of breaking waves — William Beebe

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.