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Slippery vs Slipping - What's the difference?

slippery | slipping |

As an adjective slippery

is of a surface, having low friction, often due to being covered in a non-viscous liquid, and therefore hard to grip, hard to stand on without falling, etc.

As a verb slipping is

present participle of lang=en.

As a noun slipping is

the act of something that slips; a slip; a skidding or sudden loosening motion.

slippery

English

Adjective

(er)
  • Of a surface, having low friction, often due to being covered in a non-viscous liquid, and therefore hard to grip, hard to stand on without falling, etc.
    • Oily substances render things slippery .
  • (figuratively, by extension) Evasive; difficult to pin down.
    • a slippery person
    a slippery promise
  • (obsolete) Liable to slip; not standing firm.
  • * 1602 , , III. iii. 84:
    • Which when they fall, as being slippery' standers, / The love that leaned on them, as ' slippery too, / Do one pluck down another, and together / Die in the fall.
  • unstable; changeable; inconstant
  • * Denham
    • The slippery state of kings.
  • (obsolete) wanton; unchaste; loose in morals
  • * 1610 , , I. ii. 273:
    • My wife is slippery ? If thou wilt confess –

    Derived terms

    * slippery as an eel * slippery elm * slippery nipple * slippery slope

    Related terms

    * slip

    Synonyms

    * (of a surface) greasy, slick, slimy, slippy, wet

    Antonyms

    * (of a surface) sticky

    slipping

    English

    Verb

    (head)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of something that slips; a slip; a skidding or sudden loosening motion.
    • slippings and slidings