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Glite Dictionary
slickrock

slickrock

1 9.3
A smooth hard rock surface in deserts used for walking or biking
  • noun
  • /ˈslɪkˌrɒk/
  • US
: roca lisa
  • As we ascended the steep canyon, we admired the stunning patterns on the slickrock beneath our feet.
  • Slickrock Trail
  • Slickrock Canyon
  • slickrock country

Examples

  • The rivers had been my place once, Colorado Plateau rivers that tumbled through the Sawatch and the San Juan mountains, that carved through deserts of slickrock and sand.

    Fiction book (1998)

  • I've traveled extensively in the Mojave, Great Basin, and Sonoran deserts, as well as in the steppes and slickrock country of the Colorado Plateau.

    Blog text (6)

  • The hikers carefully navigated the smooth, hard surface of the slickrock in the desert.

  • Many mountain bikers enjoy riding on the slickrock trails in Utah's beautiful landscapes.

Synonyms

sandstone
vsslickrock
  • Specialized
16 3.3

A hard rock formed when sand is pressed and held together over time

is a specific smooth desert rock surface often used for hiking or biking

How Smooth

slickrock
  • US
1 9.3
rocky
60 1.0
gravel
94 1.4

Surface Forms

slickrock singular
slickrocks plural

Morphology

slickrock = slick + rock (transparent) = slick + rock

The noun is a straightforward compound of 'slick' + 'rock' whose meaning (a smooth rock surface) is directly inferable from its parts.

Etymology

The word slickrock is a simple compound of slick ('smooth' or 'slippery') and rock, first used in the American desert to name wide, hard rock surfaces that people walk and ride on. So, slickrock means a smooth, often slippery rock surface popular with hikers and mountain bikers.