I. ˈglib noun
( -s )
Etymology: Irish Gaelic
: a mass of hair worn thickly matted so as to overhang the forehead and eyes and constituting a manner of hair arrangement at one time customary among the men of Ireland
II. adjective
( usually glibber usually glibbest )
Etymology: probably modification of Low German glibberig slippery, from Middle Low German glibberich
1. archaic : having a smooth or slippery surface
the snow lies glib as glass — Robert Browning
2.
a. : marked by lack of constraint, stiffness, or formality : free and easy : unforced , casual , nonchalant
the glib congeniality of college life
glib manners
b.
(1) : marked by little or no forethought or preparation : offhand , unstudied , impromptu
quick glib answers
an account which poured from her lips with such glib alacrity that it might have been memorized — Erle Stanley Gardner
(2) : marked by hastiness and lack of requisite forethought and preparation : unthinking , unreflecting
jumping to glib conclusions
c.
(1) : lacking depth and substance : superficial , shallow , empty
glib generalizations
(2) : too easily arrived at and basically inadequate : pat
mouthing glib solutions to the problem
(3) : too easily made, done, or produced : slick
a glib frothy comedy
turning out one glib book after another
the tale is glib , preposterous — Anthony Boucher
3.
a. : characterized by a propensity for, ability to use, or production of a smooth ready flow of words : voluble
a glib tongue
a glib speaker
especially : facile in the use of words to a degree indicative of superficiality, trickery, or deceitfulness
a glib writer on economics
glib politicians
b. : spoken or written in an overly smooth easy manner
glib phrases
Synonyms: see vocal
III. transitive verb
( glibbed ; glibbed ; glibbing ; glibs )
archaic : to make smooth or slippery : lubricate ; especially : to cause (as the tongue) to move freely as if by oiling
IV. transitive verb
( glibbed ; glibbed ; glibbing ; glibs )
Etymology: probably alteration of lib
obsolete : castrate