slink

UK: /ˈslɪŋk/ US: /slɪŋk/ ,(slingk)

Inflections of 'slink' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

slinks

v 3rd person singular

slinking

v pres p

slunk

v past

slunk

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

slink /slɪŋk/   v. [no object] , slunk/slʌŋk/  slink•ing. 

1. to move or go in a sneaky manner, as from fear or shame:
   After those insulting remarks he slunk quietly away.
2. to walk in a sinuous way that draws attention, esp. sexual attention:
   She slinked into the room and every man's eyes were upon her.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

slink  (slingk), v., slunk or (Archaic) slank;
slunk;
slink•ing;
 n.;
  adj.
v.i. 

1. to move or go in a furtive, abject manner, as from fear, cowardice, or shame.
2. to walk or move in a slow, sinuous, provocative way.

v.t. 

3. Veterinary Diseases (esp. of cows) to bring forth (young) prematurely.

n. 

4. Veterinary Diseases a prematurely born calf or other animal.

adj. 

5. born prematurely:
   a slink calf.

• bef. 1150; Middle English slynken (verb, verbal), Old English slincan to creep, crawl; cognate with Low German slinken, German schlinken

slink′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. skulk, sneak; lurk.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

slink / slɪŋk/ verb (slinks, slinking, slunk)

1. (intransitive) to move or act in a furtive or cringing manner from or as if from fear, guilt, etc
2. (intransitive) to move in a sinuous alluring manner
3. (transitive) (of animals, esp cows) to give birth to prematurely

noun

1. an animal, esp a calf, born prematurely

Etymology: Old English slincan; related to Middle Low German slinken to shrink, Old Swedish slinka to creep, Danish slunken limp