01 a. Having the quality opposite to adhesiveness; allowing or causing anything to slip or move smoothly, rapidly, and easily upon the surface; s…
-
1.
Having the quality opposite to adhesiveness; allowing or causing anything to slip or move smoothly, rapidly, and easily upon the surface; smooth; glib; as, oily substances render things slippery.
-
2.
Not affording firm ground for confidence; as, a slippery promise.“The slippery tops of human state.” — Cowley.
-
3.
Not easily held; liable or apt to slip away.“The slippery god will try to loose his hold.” — Dryden.
-
4.
Liable to slip; not standing firm.
-
5.
Unstable; changeable; mutable; uncertain; inconstant; fickle.
-
6.
Uncertain in effect.
-
7.
Wanton; unchaste; loose in morals.
Phrases & compounds
Slippery elm —
An American tree (Ulmus fulva) with a mucilagenous and slightly aromatic inner bark which is sometimes used medicinally; also, the inner bark itself