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slit Definition

slit (slit)

transitive verb slit, slit·ting

  1. to cut or split open, esp. by a straight, lengthwise incision
  2. to cut lengthwise into strips
  3. to cut (off); sever

Etymology: ME slitten < OE *slittan, akin to MHG slitzen < WGmc *slitjan < base of Gmc *slitan (> OE slitan) < IE base *(s)kel-, to cut > shield, shell

noun

  1. a cut or tear, esp. one that is long and straight
  2. a long, narrow opening or crack

slit Related Forms

slit·ter noun

slit Synonyms

slit

n.

slit Synonyms

slit

v.

tear, slice, split; see cut 1, 2.

slit Usage Examples

Object

  • throat: Soon, they all lay dead at her feet, their throats all neatly slit into macabre grins across their necks.
  • mill: By 1629 Richard Foley had set up the first slitting mill in the Midlands at The Hyde.

Converse of object

cut: Use a sharp Stanley knife to cut slits in the liner across the internal width of the drain sump.

Adjective modifier

  • narrow: However, narrow slits produce a much broader array of bright fringes than do wide slits.
  • vertical: The purists will notice the vertical slit in the lock wall on the right hand side.
  • horizontal: Near the top of the north facing wall, horizontal slits opened.
  • thin: The face has long, thin eye slits surmounted by three horizontal arches of blue beads indicating eyebrows.
  • tiny: They take the cataract out through a tiny slit at the edge of the sac that contains the clouded lens.

Modifies a noun

  • trench: The common thread, from the office of Tony Blair to the slit trenches of local politics, is fear.
  • lamp: Not all slit lamps will allow all methods to be performed.
  • spectroscopy: The integral field capabilities will be used on the same nights as slit spectroscopy and imaging.
  • width: The effect of these slit widths can be quite easily calculated.
  • sampler: Air samples were taken continuously every two minutes with a Casella slit sampler placed within 1 meter of the dental chair.
  • aperture: Above these a small slit aperture in the gable.

Noun used with modifier

  • gill: Most fish have gill slits on the sides where the head joins the body.
  • arcsec: The specification for the former can be estimated using the 0.25 arcsec slit width.
  • throat: Dead bodies with their throats slit lay in the streets.
  • arrow: Then there are the arrow slits, several on each tower.
  • exit: The exit slit is movable ( ± 10 cm ).
  • ventilation: I now have a little PCB edge sticking out one of the ventilation slits on the side of the machine.

Browse dictionary entries near slit

  1. slipway
  2. slipware
  3. slipt
  4. slipstream
  5. slipsole
  6. slipslop
  7. slipshod
  8. slipsheet
  9. slippy
  10. slipping
  1. slit trench
  2. slither
  3. slithery
  4. sliver
  5. slivovitz
  6. slo-mo
  7. slo pitch
  8. Sloan
  9. Sloan,John French
  10. Sloan Jr., Alfred P.