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