sliver
/ˈslɪvə(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈslɪvər/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈsli-vər sense 2 is usually ˈslī-/ (ame, mw)
sliver — 名詞
- sliversingular
- sliversplural
1. a narrow, thin piece of something that has broken away or been cut from a larger
薄片；細片
從較大物體剝落或切出的狹長碎片
a narrow, thin piece of something that has broken away or been cut from a larger object, often made of wood, glass, or metal
Wei found a sliver of glass in his sock after walking across the kitchen floor.
Wei 走過廚房地板後，在襪子裡發現一片玻璃薄片。
sliver + of + [material] for thin broken pieces
The carpenter pulled a long sliver of oak from his palm with tweezers.
那位木工用鑷子從掌心拔出一根長長的橡木細片。
A sharp sliver of metal had lodged itself under the mechanic's fingernail.
一片尖銳的金屬薄片卡在技師的指甲下方。
用法筆記
Often used with 'of' followed by a material noun (wood, glass, metal) to specify what the piece is made from.
常見錯誤
2. a very small part, share, or amount of something, such as time, hope, or control
極少；一線
極小的一部分或一點點抽象事物
a very small part, share, or amount of something, such as time, hope, or control
After months of searching, the family held onto a sliver of hope that their dog would come home.
找了幾個月後，這家人仍抱持一線希望，認為他們的狗會回家。
figurative: sliver of hope / sliver of [abstract noun]
The new company captured only a sliver of the online shopping market in its first year.
那家新公司第一年只搶下了線上購物市場極小的一塊份額。
A sliver of moonlight came through the gap in the curtains while the children slept.
孩子們睡著時，一線月光從窗簾縫隙透了進來。
- majority
more than half; the opposite of a small portion
用法筆記
This sense is figurative and works with abstract nouns (hope, chance, power) as well as concrete nouns denoting light or space (moonlight, land).
常見錯誤
sliver — 動詞
- sliverpresent simple I / you / we / they
- slivers3rd person singular
- slivering-ing form
- sliveredpast simple
1. to cut or break something, especially wood or a hard material, into long thin pi
切成薄片；細切
將堅硬物體切成長條薄片
to cut or break something, especially wood or a hard material, into long thin pieces
The chef slivered the carrots into thin strips before adding them to the salad.
主廚將紅蘿蔔切成細絲，再放入沙拉中。
sliver + object + into + [shape/result]
Aoi slivered the bamboo stalks with a sharp knife to make weaving strips for her basket.
Aoi 用利刀將竹莖切成長條細片，作為編籃子的材料。
The machine slivered the logs into fine pieces for the paper factory.
那臺機器將原木碎成細絲，送往造紙廠。
文法句型
sliver + object + into + noun
用法筆記
Commonly used in cooking (cutting vegetables into thin strips) and woodworking. The past participle 'slivered' is frequently used as an adjective (slivered almonds).
2. to break or split apart into long thin pieces, usually as a result of force or a
裂成細片；碎裂
因受力或老化而破裂成細長碎片
to break or split apart into long thin pieces, usually as a result of force or age
The old wooden fence began to sliver after years of rain and sun.
那道舊木籬笆經過多年日曬雨淋後開始裂出細片。
intransitive: material + slivers + [time/cause]
Dry bamboo tends to sliver when you try to cut it with a blunt blade.
乾燥的竹子用鈍刀切的時候容易碎裂成細長碎片。
Cheap chopsticks often sliver apart during use, leaving tiny pieces of wood in the food.
便宜的免洗筷在使用中常會裂出細片，讓小木屑掉進食物裡。
用法筆記
This intransitive sense is much less common than the transitive sense. It describes natural or accidental breaking rather than deliberate cutting.