slick / slik/ • adj. 1. (of an action or thing) done or operating in an impressively smooth, efficient, and apparently effortless way: a slick piece of software. ∎  (of a thing) superficially impressive or efficient in presentation: the brands are backed by slick advertising. ∎  (of a person or their behavior) adroit or clever; glibly assured: he’s a slick con man.2. (of skin or hair) smooth and glossy: a dandy-looking dude with a slick black ponytail. ∎  (of a surface) smooth, wet, and slippery: she tumbled back against the slick, damp wall.• n. 1. an oil slick. ∎  a small smear or patch of a glossy or wet substance, esp. a cosmetic: a slick of lip balm.2. (usu. slicks) a race car or bicycle tire without a tread, for use in dry weather conditions.3. inf. a glossy magazine.• v. 1. [tr.] make (one's hair) flat, smooth, and glossy by applying water, oil, or cream to it: his damp hair was slicked back | [as adj. in comb.] (slicked) his slicked-down hair. ∎  cover with a film of liquid; make wet or slippery: she woke to find her body slicked with sweat | [as adj. in comb.] (-slicked) a rain-slicked road. 2. (slick someone/something up) make someone or something smart, tidy, or stylish.DERIVATIVES: slick·ly adv.slick·ness n.

slick Quiescent area on the surface of a water body. The relative smoothness of these areas compared to adjacent waters is usually caused by a thin surface film of oil which changes the surface tension.

slick A quiescent area on the surface of a water body; the relative smoothness of such an area compared to adjacent waters is usually caused by a thin surface film of oil which changes the surface tension.

slick sleek XIV; smooth-spoken., plausible XVI; adroit, smart XIX; hence adv. (orig. U.S.) XIX. See SLEEK.