SNEAKER (sneaker)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected form: sneaker   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does sneaker mean? 

• SNEAKER (noun)
  The noun SNEAKER has 2 senses:

1. a canvas shoe with a pliable rubber sole

2. someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police

  Familiarity information: SNEAKER used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SNEAKER (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A canvas shoe with a pliable rubber sole

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

gym shoe; sneaker; tennis shoe

Hypernyms ("sneaker" is a kind of...):

shoe (footwear shaped to fit the foot (below the ankle) with a flexible upper of leather or plastic and a sole and heel of heavier material)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "sneaker"):

plimsoll (a light gym shoe with a rubber sole and a canvas top)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Someone acting as an informer or decoy for the police

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

canary; fink; sneak; sneaker; snitch; snitcher; stool pigeon; stoolie; stoolpigeon

Hypernyms ("sneaker" is a kind of...):

betrayer; blabber; informer; rat; squealer (one who reveals confidential information in return for money)

 Context examples 

He went out of the room calling "Ewing!" and returned in a few minutes accompanied by an embarrassed, slightly worn young man with shell-rimmed glasses and scanty blonde hair. He was now decently clothed in a "sport shirt" open at the neck, sneakers and duck trousers of a nebulous hue.

(The Great Gatsby, by F. Scott Fitzgerald)