slimy

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old English slīmiġ (“slimy”), equivalent to slime +‎ -y. Cognate with Dutch slijmig, slijmerig (“slimy”), German schleimig (“slimy”), Swedish slemmig (“slimy”).

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈslaɪ.mi/

  Rhymes: -aɪmi

Adjective

slimy (comparative slimier, superlative slimiest)

1. Of or pertaining to, resembling, of the nature of, covered or daubed with, yielding, abounding in slime; viscous; glutinous.

   Slimy things did crawl with legs

   Upon the slimy sea. —Coleridge.

2. (slang, figuratively) friendly in a false, calculating way; underhanded; sneaky.

Synonyms

• (slippery) lubricous
• (underhanded) conniving

Translations

glutinous

Dutch: slijmig (nl) French: visqueux (fr) m., visqueuse (fr) f., gluant (fr) m., gluante (fr) f. German: schleimig (de)

Italian: viscido (it) Spanish: viscoso, baboso; pegajoso, gelatinoso; empalagoso

underhanded

Dutch: achterbaks (nl)