Slivers: meaning, definitions and examples

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slivers

[ˈslɪvərz ]

Definitions

^{Context #1 | Noun}

small fragments

Slivers are small, thin, narrow pieces or fragments of something, often wood or metal. They are typically sharp and can easily pierce through skin. Slivers can be painful to remove and may cause irritation.

Synonyms

chip, fragment, shard, splinter.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
slivers	Usually refers to thin, narrow pieces of something, often wood or glass. Can imply fragility or delicateness. She added some slivers of garlic to the pan The mirror broke into many tiny slivers
splinter	Generally refers to a thin, sharp piece of material that has broken off, often wood. It can also metaphorically describe small groups breaking away from larger organizations. Can have a slight negative connotation. She got a splinter in her finger from the wooden fence A splinter group formed its own coalition
fragment	Refers to a small part broken off or detached, often used in a more formal or literary context. Can be used for various materials or abstract ideas. Archaeologists discovered fragments of ancient pottery She only remembered fragments of the argument
shard	Typically used to describe a sharp piece of broken material, especially glass or pottery. Implies danger or sharpness. He carefully picked up the glass shards from the floor A shard from the broken vase cut her finger
chip	Often used to describe small pieces that have been broken off from a larger solid object, like wood, plastic, or metal. Can also refer to food items, as in 'potato chips'. He accidentally chipped his tooth on the hard candy The edge of the plate had a few chips missing

Examples of usage

A sliver of glass embedded in her finger.
He got a sliver of wood stuck in his foot.
The carpenter carefully removed the slivers from the wooden plank.

^{Context #2 | Verb}

to split into small pieces

To sliver means to cut or split something into small, thin pieces. It is often used in the context of food preparation, such as slivering vegetables or fruits. Slivering can also refer to the act of breaking or cutting something into slender pieces.

Synonyms

chop, cut, shred, slice.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
slivers	Slivers refer to very thin, narrow pieces or slices of something. It's often used to describe very fine cuts in cooking or small fragments. She added slivers of garlic to the pan. He ate a sliver of cake as a treat.
slice	Slice is used when cutting something into thin, flat pieces. It's common in cooking for bread, meat, and vegetables. She sliced the bread for breakfast. He sliced the tomatoes for the salad.
cut	Cut is a general term for dividing an object into pieces using a sharp tool. It can be used in many contexts, not just cooking. He cut the paper with scissors. She cut her hair short.
chop	Chop is commonly used when referring to cutting something into large pieces, typically with a single strong motion. It's often used in cooking for vegetables and meat. She chopped the onions for the stew. He chopped the wood for the fireplace.
shred	Shred is used when something is torn or cut into very thin, long pieces. It's often used in cooking for cheese or vegetables, and also in the context of destroying documents. She shredded the cheese for the tacos. He shredded the confidential documents.

Examples of usage

She slivered the carrots for the salad.
He slivered the cheese for the appetizer.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'sliver' comes from Middle English 'slyver', which means to split or tear.
It is related to the Old English word 'slyfan,' meaning to split or divide.
The term has been used since at least the 14th century to describe thin slices of material.

Culinary Uses

In cooking, slivers of vegetables like carrots or bell peppers are often used for salads or as garnishes.
Slivers of chocolate can be used to decorate cakes, adding both flavor and visual appeal.
Garlic is sometimes sliced into slivers before being sautéed, enhancing its flavor in a dish.

Crafts and Hobbies

Woodworkers often create slivers from larger pieces of wood when carving or shaping their projects.
In paper crafts, slivers of paper can be used for intricate designs and decorations.
Sculptors may utilize slivers of stone to add delicate features to their artworks.

Psychology

In psychology, the term 'slivers' can metaphorically describe the small fragments of memory people recall from significant events.
Research suggests our brains sometimes only retain 'slivers' of details, making it harder to reconstruct full memories.
People may feel the emotional weight of 'slivers' of a traumatic memory even if they cannot remember the entire experience.

Technology

In technology, slivers of code are fundamental components that together build complex software applications.
Digital images are often made up of slivers of color and light that create the overall picture when viewed together.
Server virtualization techniques can create 'slivers' of computing resources to optimize server performance.

Translations

Translations of the word "slivers" in other languages:

🇵🇹 lascas

🇮🇳 छोटे टुकड़े

🇩🇪 Splitter

🇮🇩 serpihan

🇺🇦 скалки

🇵🇱 odłamki

🇯🇵 破片

🇫🇷 éclats

🇪🇸 astillas

🇹🇷 kıymıklar

🇰🇷 조각

🇸🇦 شظايا

🇨🇿 třísky

🇸🇰 triesky

🇨🇳 碎片

🇸🇮 drobci

🇮🇸 flísar

🇰🇿 кесектер

🇬🇪 ნაფოტები

🇦🇿 qırıntılar

🇲🇽 astillas

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,510, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.

...
27507 thug
27508 shoring
27509 scribal
27510 slivers
27511 defensiveness
27512 debasing
27513 holography
...