sl -abbr
- slightly
- slip
- slow
SL -abbr
- sea level
slab ['slab] -n, adj
- : a thick plate or slice (as of stone, wood, or bread): as
- the outside piece cut from a log in squaring it
- concrete pavement (as of a road)
- a strip of concrete pavement laid as a single unjointed piece
- a flat rectangular architectural element that is usu. formed of a single piece or mass
- a concrete foundation slab
- a rectangular building having little width with respect to its length and usu. height
- something that resembles a slab (as in size, shape, or density)
- backed up by a solid slab of reference material -- Times Lit. Supp.
- to remove an outer slab from (as a log)
- to divide or form into slabs
- to cover or support (as a roadbed or roof) with slabs
- to put on thickly
- thick, viscous
slabsid·ed ['slab-'sī-dəd] -adj
- having flat sides
- being tall or long and lank
slack ['slak] -adj, adv, n
- not using due diligence, care, or dispatch : negligent
- characterized by slowness, sluggishness, or lack of energy
- moderate in some quality
- moderately warm
- blowing or flowing at low speed
- not tight or taut
- lacking in usual or normal firmness and steadiness : weak
- wanting in activity : dull
- lacking in completeness, finish, or perfection
- a very slack piece of work
- to be or become slack
- to shirk or evade work or duty
- to be slack or negligent in performing or doing
- lessen, moderate
- to release tension on : loosen
- to cause to abate
- slake
- cessation in movement or flow
- a part of something that hangs loose without strain
- take up the slack of a rope
- trousers esp. for casual wear usu. used in pl.
- a dull season or period
- a part that is available but not used
- a portion (as of labor or resources) that is required but lacking
- hired a temp to take up the slack
- additional leeway or relief from pressure usu. used with cut
- refused to cut me some slack on the schedule
- a pass between hills
- the finest screenings of coal produced at a mine unusable as fuel unless cleaned
slack·en ['sla-kən] -vb
- to make less active : slow up
- slacken speed at a crossing
- to make slack (as by lessening tension or firmness)
- to become slack or slow or negligent : slow down
- to become less active : slack
slack·er ['sla-kər] -n, adj
- a person who shirks work or obligation
- one who evades military service in time of war
- a person and esp. a young person who is perceived to be disaffected, apathetic, cynical, or lacking ambition
slack water -n
- the period at the turn of the tide when there is little or no horizontal motion of tidal water called also slack tide
slag ['slag] -n
- the dross or scoria of a metal
- a lewd or promiscuous woman
- to criticize harshly
slain ['slā] -vb, n
(variant of slay)
- to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers
- to strike down : kill
- to delight or amuse immensely
- kill, murder
slake ['slāk, vi 2 & vt 3 are also 'slak] -vb
- subside, abate
- to become slaked : crumble
- lime may slake spontaneously in moist air
- to lessen the force of : moderate
- satisfy, quench
- will slake your curiosity
- to cause (as lime) to heat and crumble by treatment with water : hydrate
sla·lom ['slä-ləm] -n
- skiing in a zigzag or wavy course between upright obstacles (as flags)
- a timed race (as on skis or in an automobile or kayak) over a winding or zigzag course past a series of flags or markers
- movement over a zigzag route
slalom -vi
- to move over a zigzag course in or as if in a slalom
slam ['slam] -n
- grand slam
- little slam
- a heavy blow or impact
- a noisy violent closing
- a banging noise
- one made by the slam of a door
- a cutting or violent criticism
- slammer
- a poetry competition performed before judges
- to strike or beat hard : knock
- to shut forcibly and noisily : bang
- to set or slap down violently or noisily
- to propel, thrust, or produce by or as if by striking hard
- slammed the car into a wall
- to criticize harshly
- to make a banging noise
- to function (as in moving) with emphatic and usu. noisy vigor
- the hurricane slammed into the coast
- to utter verbal abuse or harsh criticism
slambang ['slam-'baŋ] -adj
- unduly loud or violent
- having fast-paced often nonstop action
- a slambang adventure novel
- vigorously enthusiastic
- made a slambang effort to win
slam dunk -n, vb
- dunk shot
- sure thing
slam·mer ['sla-mər] -n
- jail, prison
slan·der ['slan-dər] -vt, n
- to utter slander against : defame
slander [-d(ə-)rəs] -n, adj, adv
- the utterance of false charges or misrepresentations which defame and damage another's reputation
- a false and defamatory oral statement about a person
slang ['slaŋ] -n, adj, adv
- : language peculiar to a particular group: as
- argot
- jargon
- an informal nonstandard vocabulary composed typically of coinages, arbitrarily changed words, and extravagant, forced, or facetious figures of speech
- to use slang or vulgar abuse
- to abuse with harsh or coarse language
slanging match -n
- a heated exchange of abuse
slan·guage ['slaŋ-gwij] -n
- slangy speech or writing
slant ['slant] -vb, adv
- to take a diagonal course, direction, or path
- to turn or incline from a right line or a level : slope
- to give an oblique or sloping direction to
- to interpret or present in line with a special interest : angle
- stories slant ed toward youth
- to maliciously or dishonestly distort or falsify
- a slanting direction, line, or plane : slope
- something that slants
- slash
- a football running play in which the ballcarrier runs obliquely toward the line of scrimmage
- a peculiar or personal point of view, attitude, or opinion
- a slanting view : glance
slant height -n
- the length of an element of a right circular cone
- the altitude of a side of a regular pyramid
slap ['slap] -n
- opening, breach
- to strike sharply with or as if with the open hand
- to cause to strike with a motion or sound like that of a blow with the open hand
- to put, place, or throw with careless haste or force
- slapped on a coat of paint
- to assail verbally : insult
- to subject to a penalty usu. used with with
- slapped him with a 10 fine
- a quick sharp blow
- a blow with the open hand
- a noise like that of a slap
- rebuff, insult
- directly, smack
slap·dash ['slap-'dash, -,dash] -adj
- haphazard, slipshod
slap down -vt
- to prohibit or restrain usu. abruptly and with censure from acting in a specified way : squelch
- to put an abrupt stop to : suppress
slap·hap·py ['slap-,ha-pē] -adj
- punch-drunk
- buoyantly or recklessly carefree or foolish : happy-go-lucky
slap·jack [-,jak] -n
- pancake
- a card game in which each player tries to be the first to slap a hand on any jack that appears faceup
slap shot -n
- a shot in ice hockey made with a swinging stroke
slap·stick ['slap-,stik] -n, adj
- a device made of two flat pieces of wood fastened at one end so as to make a loud noise when used by an actor to strike a person
- comedy stressing farce and horseplay
- activity resembling slapstick
slapup ['slap-,əp] -adj
- first-rate, bang-up
slash ['slash] -vb
- to lash out, cut, or thrash about with or as if with an edged blade
- to cut with or as if with rough sweeping strokes
- cane, lash
- to cut slits in (as a garment) so as to reveal a color beneath
- to criticize cuttingly
- to reduce sharply : cut
- the act of slashing
- a long cut or stroke made by or as if by slashing
- an ornamental slit in a garment
- an open tract in a forest strewn with debris (as from logging)
- the debris in such a tract
- a mark / used typically to denote "or" (as in and/or), "and or" (as in straggler/deserter), or "per" (as in feet/second) called also diagonal slant solidus virgule
- a low swampy area often overgrown with brush
slashandburn -adj
- characterized or developed by felling and burning trees to clear land esp. for temporary agriculture
- extremely ruthless and unsparing
slash·er ['sla-shər] -n
- one that slashes
- a person who mutilates or kills with an edged blade
slash·ing ['sla-shiŋ] -adj, adv
- incisively satiric or critical
- driving, pelting
- vivid, brilliant
slashing -n
- the act or process of slashing
- an insert or layer of contrasting color revealed by a slash (as in a garment)
- slash
slash pine -n
- a pine ( Pinus elliottii) of the southeastern U.S. that has two or three needles in a cluster and is a source of turpentine, lumber, and pulpwood
slash pocket -n
- a pocket suspended on the wrong side of a garment from a finished slit on the right side that serves as its opening
slat ['slat] -vt
- strike, pummel
- to hurl or throw smartly
- a thin narrow flat strip esp. of wood or metal
- ribs
- an auxiliary airfoil at the leading edge of the wing of an airplane
- to make or equip with slats
slate ['slāt] -n, adj
- a piece of construction material (as laminated rock) prepared as a shingle for roofing and siding
- a dense fine-grained metamorphic rock produced by the compression of various sediments (as clay or shale) so as to develop a characteristic cleavage
- a tablet (as of slate) used for writing on
- a written or unwritten record (as of deeds)
- started with a clean slate
- a list of candidates for nomination or election
- a dark purplish gray
- any of various grays similar in color to common roofing slates
- to cover with slate or a slatelike substance
- to designate for a specified purpose or action : schedule
- was slated to direct the play
- to thrash or pummel severely
- to criticize or censure severely
slate black -n
- a nearly neutral slightly purplish black
slate blue -n
- a grayish-blue color
slat·er ['slā-tər] -n
- one that slates
- wood louse
- any of various marine isopods
slath·er ['sla-thər] -n
- a great quantity often used in pl.
slather ['sla-thə-riŋ, 'slath-riŋ] -vt
- to use or spend in a wasteful or lavish manner : squander
- to spread thickly or lavishly
- slather ed sunscreen on her skin
- to spread something thickly or lavishly on
- slather ed her skin with sunscreen
slating -n
- the work of a slater
slat·tern ['sla-tərn] -n
- an untidy slovenly woman
- slut, prostitute
slattern -adj
- slatternly
slat·tern·ly ['sla-tərn-lē] -adj, n
- untidy and dirty through habitual neglect
- careless, disorderly
- of, relating to, or characteristic of a slut or prostitute
slaty ['slā-tē] -adj
- of, containing, or characteristic of slate
- gray like slate
slaugh·ter ['slȯ-tər] -n
- the act of killing
- the butchering of livestock for market
- killing of great numbers of human beings (as in battle or a massacre) : carnage
slaughter [-tər-ər] -vt, n
- to kill (animals) for food : butcher
- to kill in a bloody or violent manner : slay
- to kill in large numbers : massacre
- to discredit, defeat, or demolish completely
slaugh·ter·house ['slȯ-tər-,hau̇s] -n
- an establishment where animals are butchered
slaugh·ter·ous ['slȯ-tə-rəs] -adj, adv
- of or relating to slaughter : murderous
Slav ['släv, 'slav] -n, adj
- a person whose native tongue is a Slavic language
slave ['slāv] -n, adj
- a person held in servitude as the chattel of another
- one that is completely subservient to a dominating influence
- a device (as the printer of a computer) that is directly responsive to another
- drudge, toiler
- enslave
- to make directly responsive to another mechanism
- to work like a slave : drudge
- to traffic in slaves
slave driver -n
- a supervisor of slaves at work
- a harsh taskmaster
slave·hold·er ['slāv-,hōl-dər] -n, adj or n
- an owner of slaves
slavemak·ing ant ['slāv-,mā-kiŋ-] -n
- an ant that attacks the colonies of ants of other species and carries off the larvae and pupae to be reared in its own nest as slave workers
sla·ver ['sla-vər, 'slā-, 'slä-] -vb
- drool, slobber
- to smear with or as if with saliva
slaver -n
- saliva dribbling from the mouth
slav·er ['slā-vər] -n
- a ship used in the slave trade
- a person engaged in the slave trade
- white slaver
slav·ery ['slā-v(ə-)rē] -n
- drudgery, toil
- submission to a dominating influence
- the state of a person who is a chattel of another
- the practice of slaveholding
slave state -n
- a state of the U.S. in which slavery was legal until the Civil War
- a nation subjected to totalitarian rule
slave trade -n
- traffic in slaves
- the buying and selling of blacks for profit prior to the American Civil War
slav·ey ['slā-vē] -n
- drudge
- a household servant who does general housework
Slav·ic ['slä-vik, 'sla-] -n
- a branch of the Indo-European language family containing Belarusian, Bulgarian, Czech, Polish, Serbian and Croatian, Slovene, Russian, and Ukrainian
Slavic -adj
- of, relating to, or characteristic of the Slavs or their languages
Slav·i·cist ['slä-və-sist, 'sla-] -n
- a specialist in the Slavic languages or literatures
slav·ish ['slā-vish sometimes 'sla-] -adj, adv, n
- of or characteristic of a slave
- basely or abjectly servile
- despicable, low
- oppressive, tyrannical
- copying obsequiously or without originality : imitative
Slav·ist ['slä-vist, 'sla-] -n
- slavicist
slav·oc·ra·cy [slā-'vä-krə-sē] -n
- a faction of slaveholders and advocates of slavery in the South before the American Civil War
Sla·von·ic [slə-'vä-nik] -adj
- slavic
Slavonic -n
- slavic
- old church slavonic
Slav·o·phile ['slä-və-,fī(-ə)l, 'sla-] -n
- an admirer of the Slavs : an advocate of Slavophilism
Slav·oph·i·lism [sla-'vä-fə-,li-zəm; 'sla-və-,fī-,li-, 'slä-] -n
- advocacy of Slavic and specif. Russian culture over western European culture esp. as practiced among some members of the Russian intelligentsia in the middle 19th century
slaw ['slȯ] -n
- coleslaw
slay ['slā] -vb, n
- to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers
- to strike down : kill
- to delight or amuse immensely
- kill, murder
SLBM -abbr
- submarine-launched ballistic missile
SLE -abbr
- systemic lupus erythematosus
sleave ['slēv] -n
- skein
- sleep that knits up the raveled sleave of care -- Shak.
- to separate (silk thread) into filaments
sleave silk -n
- floss silk that is easily separated into filaments for embroidery
sleaze ['slēz also 'slāz] -n
- sleazy quality, appearance, or behavior
- sleazy material
- a sleazy person
sleaze·bag [-,bag also -,bāg] -n
- a sleazy person
sleaze·ball [-,bȯl] -n
- a sleazy person
sleazo ['slē-(,)zō] -adj
- sleazy
slea·zy ['slē-zē also 'slā-] -adj, adv, n
- lacking firmness of texture : flimsy
- carelessly made of inferior materials : shoddy
- marked by low character or quality
- squalid, dilapidated
sled ['sled] -n
- a vehicle usu. on runners for transportation esp. on snow or ice
- a small steerable one used esp. by children for coasting down snow-covered hills
- rocket sled
- sledge
- to ride on a sled or sleigh
sledding -n
- the use of a sled
- the conditions under which one may use a sled
- going
sled dog -n
- a dog trained to draw a sledge esp. in the Arctic regions called also sledge dog
sledge ['slej] -n
- sledgehammer
- sledgehammer
- sleigh
- a strong heavy sled
- to travel with a sledge
- to ride in a sleigh
- to transport on a sledge
sledge·ham·mer ['slej-,ha-mər] -n
- a large heavy hammer that is wielded with both hands
- something that resembles a sledgehammer in action
sledgehammer -vt
- to strike with or as if with a sledgehammer
- to strike blows with or as if with a sledgehammer
- marked by heavy-handed directness or hard-hitting force
- trusting in sledgehammer warfare -- C. J. Rolo
sleek ['slēk] -vb
- slick
- grooms sleek ing cooled horses -- Sunset
- to cover up : gloss over
- slick
- smooth and glossy as if polished
- having a smooth well-groomed look
- healthy-looking
- smooth in speech or manner
- unctuous
- having a prosperous air
- sleek luxury condominiums
- having trim graceful lines
- elegant, stylish
sleek·en ['slē-kən] -vt
- to make sleek
sleek·it ['slē-kət] -adj
- sleek, smooth
- crafty, deceitful
sleep ['slēp] -n, adj
- the natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored
- : a state resembling sleep: as
- a state of torpid inactivity
- death
- trance, coma
- the closing of leaves or petals esp. at night
- a state marked by a diminution of feeling followed by tingling
- the state of an animal during hibernation
- a period spent sleeping
- night
- a day's journey
- crusty matter present in the corner of an eye upon awakening
- to rest in a state of sleep
- to be in a state (as of quiescence or death) resembling sleep
- to have sexual relations usu. used with with
- to be slumbering in
- slept the sleep of the dead
- to get rid of or spend in or by sleep
- to provide sleeping accommodations for
sleep apnea -n
- apnea that recurs during sleep and is caused esp. by obstruction of the airway or a disturbance in the brain's respiratory center
sleep around -vi
- to engage in sex promiscuously
sleep·away ['slēp-ə-,wā] -adj
- providing accommodations for overnight sleep and extended stay away from home
sleep·er ['slē-pər] -n
- one that sleeps
- a piece of timber, stone, or steel on or near the ground to support a superstructure, keep railroad rails in place, or receive floor joists : stringpiece
- sleeping car
- someone or something unpromising or unnoticed that suddenly attains prominence or value
- the low-budget film became the summer's sleeper
- children's pajamas usu. with feet usu. used in pl.
- a small earring or stud worn to keep the hole of a pierced ear from closing
- mole
sleeper cell -n
- a terrorist cell whose members work under cover in an area until sent into action
sleepin ['slēp-'in] -adj
- that lives at the place of employment
sleep in -vi
- to sleep where one is employed
- oversleep
- to sleep late intentionally
sleeping bag -n
- a bag that is warmly lined or padded for sleeping outdoors or in a camp or tent
Sleeping Beauty -n
- a princess of a fairy tale who is wakened from an enchanted sleep by the kiss of a prince
sleeping car -n
- a railroad passenger car having berths for sleeping
sleeping giant -n
- one that has great but unrealized or newly emerging power
sleeping partner -n
- silent partner
sleeping pill -n
- a drug and esp. a barbiturate that is taken as a tablet or capsule to induce sleep
sleeping porch -n
- a porch or room having open sides or many windows arranged to permit sleeping in the open air
sleeping sickness -n
- a serious disease that is prevalent in much of tropical Africa, is marked by fever, headache, lethargy, confusion, and sleep disturbances, and is caused by either of two trypanosomes ( Trypanosoma brucei gambienseand T. b. rhodesiense) transmitted by tsetse flies
- any of various viral encephalitides or encephalomyelitides of which lethargy or somnolence is a prominent feature
sleep·less ['slēp-ləs] -adj, adv, n
- not able to sleep
- affording no sleep
- unceasingly active or operative
sleep out -vi
- to sleep outdoors
sleep·over ['slēp-ō-vər] -n
- an overnight stay (as at another's home)
- an instance of hosting a sleepover in one's home
sleep·walk ['slēp-,wȯk] -vi, n
- to walk while or as if while asleep
- to proceed in a passive often lethargic manner
- sleepwalk ed through the workday
sleep·wear [-,wer] -n
- nightclothes
sleepy ['slē-pē] -adj, adv, n
- ready to fall asleep
- of, relating to, or characteristic of sleep
- sluggish as if from sleep : lethargic
- having little activity
- sleep-inducing
sleepy·head ['slē-pē-,hed] -n
- a sleepy person
sleet ['slēt] -n, adj
- frozen or partly frozen rain
- to shower sleet
sleeve ['slēv] -n, adj
- a part of a garment covering an arm
- sleevelet
- a tubular part (as a hollow axle or a bushing) designed to fit over another part
- an open-ended flat or tubular packaging or cover
- jacket
sleeve·let ['slēv-lət] -n
- a covering for the forearm to protect clothing from wear or dirt
sleigh ['slā] -n
- an open usu. horse-drawn vehicle with runners for use on snow or ice
- to drive or travel in a sleigh
sleigh bed -n
- a bed common esp. in the first half of the 19th century having a solid headboard and footboard that roll outward at the top
sleigh bell -n
- : any of various bells commonly attached to a sleigh or to the harness of a horse drawing a sleigh: as
- cascabel
- a hemispherical bell with an attached clapper
sleight ['slīt] -n
- deceitful craftiness
- stratagem
- dexterity, skill
sleight of hand
- a cleverly executed trick or deception
- a conjuring trick requiring manual dexterity
- skill and dexterity in conjuring tricks
- adroitness in deception
slen·der ['slen-dər] -adj, adv, n
- spare in frame or flesh
- gracefully slight
- small or narrow in circumference or width in proportion to length or height
- limited or inadequate in amount or scope : meager
slen·der·ize [-də-,rīz] -vt
- to make slender
slept ['slēp] -n, adj
(variant of sleep)
- the natural periodic suspension of consciousness during which the powers of the body are restored
- : a state resembling sleep: as
- a state of torpid inactivity
- death
- trance, coma
- the closing of leaves or petals esp. at night
- a state marked by a diminution of feeling followed by tingling
- the state of an animal during hibernation
- a period spent sleeping
- night
- a day's journey
- crusty matter present in the corner of an eye upon awakening
- to rest in a state of sleep
- to be in a state (as of quiescence or death) resembling sleep
- to have sexual relations usu. used with with
- to be slumbering in
- slept the sleep of the dead
- to get rid of or spend in or by sleep
- to provide sleeping accommodations for
sleuth ['slüth] -n
- detective
- to act as a detective : search for information
- to search for and discover
sleuth·hound ['slüth-,hau̇nd] -n
- detective
slew ['slā] -vb, n
(variant of slay)
- to kill violently, wantonly, or in great numbers
- to strike down : kill
- to delight or amuse immensely
- kill, murder
slew ['slü, 'slau̇; in the US (exc NewEng) 'slü is usual for sense 1 with those to whom the sense is familiar; Brit usu 'slau̇ for both senses] -n, adj
(variant of slough)
- a place of deep mud or mire
- swamp
- an inlet on a river
- backwater
- a creek in a marsh or tide flat
- a state of moral degradation or spiritual dejection
- to engulf in a slough
- to plod through or as if through mud : slog
- the cast-off skin of a snake
- a mass of dead tissue separating from an ulcer
- something that may be shed or cast off
- to become shed or cast off
- to cast off one's skin
- to separate in the form of dead tissue from living tissue
- to crumble slowly and fall away
- to cast off
- to get rid of or discard as irksome, objectionable, or disadvantageous usu. used with off
- to dispose of (a losing card in bridge) by discarding
slice ['slīs] -vb, adj, n
- to cut with or as if with a knife
- to stir or spread with a slice
- to hit (a ball) so that a slice results
- interpret, construe used in phrases like any way you slice it
- to slice something
- to move with a cutting action
- the ship sliced through the waves
- a thin flat piece cut from something
- a wedge-shaped piece (as of pie or cake)
- a spatula for spreading paint or ink
- a serving knife with wedge-shaped blade
- a flight of a ball that deviates from a straight course in the direction of the dominant hand of the player propelling it
- a ball following such a course
- portion, share
- segment, sample
sliceoflife -adj
- of, relating to, or marked by the accurate transcription (as into drama) of a segment of actual life experience
slick ['slik] -vb
- to make sleek or smooth
- spruce usu. used with up
- having a smooth surface : slippery
- having surface plausibility or appeal : glossy
- based on stereotype : trite
- slick stories soon forgotten
- sleek
- characterized by subtlety or nimble wit : clever
- wily
- deft, skillful
- extremely good : first-rate
- something that is smooth or slippery
- a smooth patch of water covered with a film of oil
- a film of oil
- : an implement for producing a smooth or slick surface
- a shrewd untrustworthy person
- a popular magazine printed on coated stock and intended to appeal to sophisticated readers
- an automobile tire made without a tread for maximum traction (as in drag racing)
- a military helicopter without armaments that is used to transport troops or light cargo
slickear ['slik-,ir] -n
- a range animal lacking an earmark
slick·en·side ['sli-kən-,sīd] -n
- a smooth often striated surface produced on rock by movement along a fault or a subsidiary fracture usu. used in pl.
slick·er ['sli-kər] -n
- oilskin
- raincoat
- a clever crook : swindler
- slickster
- a city dweller esp. of natty appearance or sophisticated mannerisms
slick·rock ['slik-,räk] -n
- smooth wind-polished rock
slick·ster ['slik-stər] -n
- a slick untrustworthy person
slide ['slīd] -vb
- to move smoothly along a surface : slip
- to coast over snow or ice
- to fall or dive feetfirst or headfirst when approaching a base
- to slip or fall by loss of footing
- to change position or become dislocated : shift
- to slither along the ground : crawl
- to stream along : flow
- to move or pass smoothly or easily
- slid into the prepared speech
- to pass unnoticed or unremarked
- to pass unobtrusively : steal
- to pass by gradations esp. downward
- the economy slid from recession to depression
- to cause to glide or slip
- to traverse in a sliding manner
- to put unobtrusively or stealthily
- slid the bill into his hand
- an act or instance of sliding
- a musical grace of two or more small notes
- portamento
- : a sliding part or mechanism: as
- a U-shaped section of tube in the trombone that is pushed out and in to produce the tones between the fundamental and its harmonics
- a short U-shaped section of tube in a brass instrument that is used to adjust the pitch of the instrument or of individual valves
- a moving piece (as the ram of a punch press) that is guided by a part along which it slides
- a guiding surface (as a feeding mechanism) along which something slides
- sliding seat
- the descent of a mass of earth, rock, or snow down a hill or mountainside
- a dislocation in which one rock mass in a mining lode has slid on another : fault
- a slippery surface for coasting
- a chute with a slippery bed down which children slide in play
- a channel or track on which something is slid
- a sloping trough down which objects are carried by gravity
- a flat piece of glass or plastic on which an object is mounted for microscopic examination
- a photographic transparency on a small plate or film mounted for projection
- bottleneck
slide fastener -n
- zipper
slid·er ['slī-dər] -n
- one that slides
- a freshwater turtle ( Trachemys scriptasyn. Pseudemys scripta) chiefly of the southeastern U.S.
- one ( T. scripta elegans) usu. having a red stripe behind each eye and often sold as a pet
- a fast baseball pitch that breaks slightly in the same direction as a curve
slide rule -n
- a manual device used for calculation that consists in its simple form of a ruler and a movable middle piece which are graduated with similar logarithmic scales
slide valve -n
- a valve that opens and closes a passageway by sliding over a port
- such a valve often used in steam engines for admitting steam to the piston and releasing it
slide·way ['slīd-,wā] -n
- a way along which something slides
sliding scale -n
- a wage scale geared to the selling price of the product or to the consumer price index but usu. guaranteeing a minimum below which the wage will not fall
- a system for raising or lowering tariffs in accord with price changes
- a flexible scale (as of fees or subsidies) adjusted to the needs or income of individuals
- the sliding scale of medical fees
sliding seat -n
- a rower's seat (as in a racing shell) that slides fore and aft called also slide
slier ['slī] -adj, adv, n
(variant of sly)
- wise in practical affairs
- displaying cleverness : ingenious
- clever in concealing one's aims or ends : furtive
- lacking in straightforwardness and candor : dissembling
- lightly mischievous : roguish
sliest ['slī] -adj, adv, n
(variant of sly)
- wise in practical affairs
- displaying cleverness : ingenious
- clever in concealing one's aims or ends : furtive
- lacking in straightforwardness and candor : dissembling
- lightly mischievous : roguish
slight ['slīt] -adj, adv, n
- having a slim or delicate build : not stout or massive in body
- lacking in strength or substance : flimsy, frail
- deficient in weight, solidity, or importance : trivial
- small of its kind or in amount
- to treat as slight or unimportant : make light of
- to treat with disdain or indifference
- to perform or attend to carelessly and inadequately
- an act or an instance of slighting
- an instance of being slighted : a humiliating discourtesy
slight·ing ['slī-tiŋ] -adj, adv
- characterized by disregard or disrespect : disparaging
slim ['slim] -adj, adv, n
- of small diameter or thickness in proportion to the height or length : slender
- mean, worthless
- adroit, crafty
- inferior in quality or amount : slight
- scanty, small
- to make slender : decrease the size of
- to become slender
slime ['slīm] -n
- soft moist earth or clay
- viscous mud
- : a viscous, glutinous, or gelatinous substance: as
- a mucous or mucoid secretion of various animals (as slugs and catfishes)
- a product of wet crushing consisting of ore ground so fine as to pass a 200-mesh screen
- a repulsive or odious person
- to smear or cover with slime
- to remove slime from (as fish for canning)
- to become slimy
slime·ball ['slīm-,bȯl] -n
- slime
slime mold -n
- any of a group (Myxomycetes or Mycetozoa) of organisms usu. held to be lower fungi but sometimes considered protozoans that exist vegetatively as mobile plasmodia and reproduce by spores
slimjim ['slim-'jim, -,jim] -adj
- notably slender
slim·mer ['sli-mər] -n
- a person dieting to lose weight
slim·nas·tics [,slim-'nas-tiks] -n pl but sing in constr
- exercises designed to reduce one's weight
slim·sy ['slim-zē, 'slim(p)-sē] -adj
- flimsy, frail
slimy ['slī-mē] -adj, adv, n
- of, relating to, or resembling slime : viscous
- covered with or yielding slime
- vile, offensive
sling ['sliŋ] -vt, n
- to cast with a sudden and usu. sweeping or swirling motion
- slung the sack over my shoulder
- to throw with or as if with a sling
- political campaigners sling ing mud
- to serve (food) to a customer
- had a job sling ing hamburgers
- an instrument for throwing stones that usu. consists of a short strap with strings fastened to its ends and is whirled round to discharge its missile by centrifugal force
- slingshot
- a usu. looped line (as of strap, chain, or rope) used to hoist, lower, or carry something
- a hanging bandage suspended from the neck to support an arm or hand
- a chain or rope attached to a lower yard at the middle and passing around a mast near the masthead to support a yard
- a chain hooked at the bow and stern of a boat for lowering or hoisting
- a device (as a rope net) for enclosing material to be hoisted by a tackle or crane
- a slinging or hurling of or as if of a missile
- to place in a sling for hoisting or lowering
- to suspend by or as if by a sling
- an alcoholic drink that is served hot or cold and that usu. consists of liquor, sugar, lemon juice, and plain or carbonated water
slings and arrows -n pl
- pointed often acerbic critical attacks
- has suffered the slings and arrows of detractors -- Roland Gelatt
sling·shot ['sliŋ-,shät] -n
- a forked stick with an elastic band attached for shooting small stones
- a maneuver in auto racing in which a drafting car accelerates past the car in front by taking advantage of reserve power
- a dragster in which the driver sits behind the rear wheels
slink ['sliŋk] -vb
- to go or move stealthily or furtively (as in fear or shame) : steal
- to move in a sinuous provocative manner
- to give premature birth to used esp. of a domestic animal
- a cow that slink s her calf
- the young of an animal (as a calf) brought forth prematurely
- the flesh or skin of such an animal
- born prematurely or abortively
slinky ['sliŋ-kē] -adj, adv, n
- characterized by slinking : stealthily quiet
- sleek and sinuous in movement or outline
- following the lines of the figure in a gracefully flowing manner
slip ['slip] -vb
- to move with a smooth sliding motion
- to move quietly and cautiously : steal
- elapse, pass
- to escape from memory or consciousness
- to become uttered through inadvertence
- to pass quickly or easily away : become lost
- to fall into error or fault : lapse
- to slide out of place or away from a support or one's grasp
- to slide on or down a slippery surface
- to flow smoothly
- to get speedily into or out of clothing
- to fall off from a standard or accustomed level by degrees : decline
- sideslip
- to cause to move easily and smoothly : slide
- to get away from : elude, evade
- to free oneself from
- the dog slipped its collar
- to escape from (one's memory or notice)
- shed, cast
- the snake slipped its skin
- to put on (a garment) quickly usu. used with on
- to let loose from a restraining leash or grasp
- to cause to slip open : release, undo
- to let go of
- to disengage from (an anchor) instead of hauling
- to insert, place, or pass quietly or secretly
- to give or pay on the sly
- slink, abort
- dislocate
- to transfer (a stitch) from one needle to another without working a stitch
- to avoid (a punch) by moving the body or head quickly to one side
- a sloping ramp extending out into the water to serve as a place for landing or repairing ships
- a ship's or boat's berth between two piers
- the act or an instance of departing secretly or hurriedly
- gave his pursuer the slip
- a mistake in judgment, policy, or procedure
- an unintentional and trivial mistake or fault : lapse
- a leash so made that it can be quickly slipped
- the act or an instance of slipping down or out of a place
- a sudden mishap
- a movement dislocating parts (as of a rock or soil mass)
- the result of such movement
- a fall from some level or standard : decline
- an undergarment made in dress length and usu. having shoulder straps
- half-slip
- a case into which something is slipped
- pillowcase
- a disposition or tendency to slip easily
- the action of sideslipping : an instance of sideslipping
- a small shoot or twig cut for planting or grafting : scion
- descendant, offspring
- a long narrow strip of material
- a small piece of paper
- a young and slender person
- a long seat or narrow pew
- to take cuttings from (a plant) : divide into slips
- a mixture of finely divided clay and water used esp. by potters (as for casting or decorating wares or in cementing separately formed parts)
slip·case ['slip-,kās] -n, adj
- a protective container for books or magazines that has one open end
slip·cov·er ['slip-,kə-vər] -n
- a cover that may be slipped off and on
- a removable covering for an article of furniture
slip·form ['slip-,fȯrm] -vt
- to construct with the use of a slip form
slip form -n
- a form that is moved slowly as concrete is placed during construction (as of a building or pavement)
slip·knot ['slip-,nät] -n
- a knot that slips along the rope or line around which it is made
- one made by tying an overhand knot around the standing part of a rope
slip noose -n
- a noose with a slipknot
slipon ['slip-,ȯn, -,än] -n
- : an article of clothing that is easily slipped on or off: as
- a glove or shoe without fastenings
- a garment (as a girdle) that one steps into and pulls up
- pullover
slip·over [-,ō-vər] -n
- a garment or cover that slips on and off easily
- a pullover sweater
slip·page ['sli-pij] -n
- an act, instance, or process of slipping
- a loss in transmission of power
- the difference between theoretical and actual output (as of power)
slipped disk -n
- a protrusion of one of the cartilage disks between vertebrae with pressure on spinal nerves resulting in low back pain or sciatic pain
slip·per ['sli-pər] -adj
- slippery
slipper [-pərd] -n, adj
- a light low-cut shoe that is easily slipped on the foot
slipper chair -n
- an armless upholstered chair with short legs
slip·pery ['sli-p(ə-)rē] -adj, n
- causing or tending to cause something to slide or fall
- tending to slip from the grasp
- not firmly fixed : unstable
- not precise or fixed in meaning : ambiguous, elusive
- not to be trusted : tricky
slippery elm -n
- a large-leaved elm ( Ulmus rubrasyn. U. fulva) of eastern and central No. America that has hard wood and fragrant mucilaginous inner bark
- the bark
slippery slope -n
- a course of action that seems to lead inevitably from one action or result to another with unintended consequences
slip·py ['sli-pē] -adj
- slippery
slip ring -n
- one of two or more continuous conducting rings from which the brushes take or to which they deliver current in a generator or motor
slipsheet ['slip-,shēt] -vt
- to insert slip sheets between (newly printed sheets)
slip sheet -n
- a sheet of paper placed between newly printed sheets to prevent offsetting
slip·shod ['slip-'shäd] -adj
- wearing loose shoes or slippers
- down at the heel : shabby
- careless, slovenly
slip·slop [-,släp] -n, adj
- watery food : slops
- shallow talk or writing
slip·sole [-,sōl] -n
- a thin insole
- a half sole inserted between the insole or welt and the outsole of a shoe to give additional height called also slip tap
slip stitch -n
- a concealed stitch for sewing folded edges (as hems) made by alternately running the needle inside the fold and picking up a thread or two from the body of the article
- an unworked stitch
- a knitting stitch that is shifted from one needle to another without knitting it
slip·stream ['slip-,strēm] -n
- a stream of fluid (as air or water) driven aft by a propeller
- an area of reduced air pressure and forward suction immediately behind a rapidly moving vehicle
slipstream -vi
- to drive in the slipstream of a vehicle
slip·up ['slip-,əp] -n
- mistake
- mischance
slip up -vi
- to make a mistake : blunder
slip·ware ['slip-,wer] -n
- pottery coated with slip to improve or decorate the surface
slip·way [-,wā] -n
- an inclined usu. concrete surface for a ship being built or repaired
slit ['slit] -n, adj
- a long narrow cut or opening
- to make a slit in
- to cut off or away : sever
- to form into a slit
- to cut into long narrow strips
slith·er ['sli-thər] -vb
- to slide on or as if on a loose gravelly surface
- to slip or slide like a snake
- to cause to slide
slith·ery ['sli-thə-rē] -adj
- having a slippery surface, texture, or quality
slit trench -n
- a narrow trench esp. for shelter in battle from bomb and shell fragments
sliv·er ['sli-vər, 2 is usu 'slī-] -n
- a long slender piece cut or torn off : splinter
- a small and narrow portion
- particle, scrap
- an untwisted strand or rope of textile fiber produced by a carding or combing machine and ready for drawing, roving, or spinning
- to cut into slivers : splinter
- to become split into slivers
sliv·o·vitz ['sli-və-,vits, 'slē-, -,wits] -n
- a dry usu. colorless plum brandy made esp. in the Balkan countries
slob ['släb] -n, adj
- a slovenly or boorish person
- an ordinary person
slob·ber ['slä-bər] -vb, n
- to let saliva dribble from the mouth : drool
- to indulge the feelings effusively and without restraint
- to smear with or as if with dribbling saliva or food
slobber ['slä-b(ə-)rē] -n, adj
- saliva drooled from the mouth
- driveling, sloppy, or incoherent utterance
sloe ['slō] -n
- the small dark globose astringent fruit of the blackthorn
- blackthorn
sloeeyed ['slō-,īd] -adj
- having soft dark bluish- or purplish-black eyes
- having slanted eyes
sloe gin -n
- a sweet reddish liqueur consisting of grain spirits flavored chiefly with sloes
slog ['släg] -vb, n
- to hit hard : beat
- to plod (one's way) perseveringly esp. against difficulty
- to plod heavily : tramp
- to work hard and steadily : plug
- hard persistent work
- the endless enervating slog of war -- Michael Gorra
- a prolonged arduous task or effort
- reform will be a hard political slog -- M. S. Forbes
- a hard dogged march or journey
slo·gan ['slō-gən] -n
- a war cry esp. of a Scottish clan
- a word or phrase used to express a characteristic position or stand or a goal to be achieved
- a brief attention-getting phrase used in advertising or promotion
slo·gan·eer [,slō-gə-'nir] -n, vi
- a maker or user of slogans
slo·gan·ize ['slō-gə-,nīz] -vt
- to express as a slogan
slo-mo ['slō-,mō] -adj, n
- slow-motion
sloop ['slüp] -n
- a fore-and-aft rigged boat with one mast and a single jib
sloop of war
- a small warship with guns on only one deck
slop ['släp] -n
- a loose smock or overall
- short full breeches worn by men in the 16th century
- articles (as clothing) sold to sailors
- soft mud : slush
- thin tasteless drink or liquid food usu. used in pl.
- liquid spilled or splashed
- food waste (as garbage) fed to animals : swill
- excreted body waste usu. used in pl.
- a product of little or no value : rubbish
- watching the usual slop on TV
- sentimental effusiveness in speech or writing : gush
- to spill from a container
- to splash or spill liquid on
- to cause (a liquid) to splash
- to dish out messily
- to eat or drink greedily or noisily
- to feed slop to
- to tramp in mud or slush
- to become spilled or splashed
- to be effusive : gush
- to pass beyond or exceed a boundary or limit
slop basin -n
- slop bowl
slop bowl -n
- a bowl for receiving the leavings of tea or coffee cups at table
slop chest -n
- a store of clothing and personal requisites (as tobacco) carried on merchant ships for issue to the crew usu. as a charge against their wages
slope ['slōp] -adj
- that slants : sloping often used in combination
- to take an oblique course
- to lie or fall in a slant : incline
- go, travel
- slope s off into the night -- Wolcott Gibbs
- to cause to incline or slant
- ground that forms a natural or artificial incline
- upward or downward slant or inclination or degree of slant
- the part of a continent draining to a particular ocean
- the tangent of the angle made by a straight line with the x-axis
- the slope of the line tangent to a plane curve at a point
slopeintercept form -n
- the equation of a straight line in the form y mx bwhere mis the slope of the line and bis its y-intercept
slopitch ['slō-'pich, -,pich] -n
- slow-pitch
slop jar -n
- a large pail used as a chamber pot or to receive waste water from a washbowl or the contents of chamber pots
slop pail -n
- a pail for toilet or household slops
slop·py ['slä-pē] -adj, adv, n
- wet so as to spatter easily : slushy
- wet or smeared with or as if with something slopped over
- slovenly, careless
- disagreeably effusive
sloppy joe [-'jō] -n
- a loose-fitting sweater esp. for girls
- ground beef cooked in a thick spicy sauce and usu. served on a bun
slop·work ['släp-,wərk] -n
- the manufacture of cheap ready-made clothing
- hasty slovenly work
slosh ['släsh, 'slȯsh] -n, adj
- slush
- the slap or splash of liquid
- to flounder or splash through water, mud, or slush
- to move with a splashing motion
- the water slosh ed around him -- Bill Alcine
- to splash about in liquid
- to splash (a liquid) about or on something
- to splash with liquid
sloshed ['släsht, 'slȯsht] -adj
- drunk, intoxicated
slot ['slät] -n
- a narrow opening or groove : slit, notch
- a narrow passage or enclosure
- a passage through the wing of an airplane or of a missile that is located usu. near the leading edge and formed between a main and an auxiliary airfoil for improving flow conditions over the wing so as to increase lift and delay stalling of the wing
- the area on a hockey rink in front of the crease and between the face-off circles
- a place or position in an organization, arrangement, or sequence : niche, spot
- slot machine usu. used in pl.
- a gap between an end and a tackle in an offensive football line
- to cut a slot in
- to place in or assign to a slot
- to fit easily
- her ideas slot neatly into the theory
- the track of an animal (as a deer)
slot·back ['slät-,bak] -n
- an offensive football halfback who lines up just behind the slot between an offensive end and tackle
slot car -n
- an electric toy racing car with a pin underneath that fits into a groove on a track for guidance
sloth ['slȯth, 'släth also 'slōth] -n
- disinclination to action or labor : indolence
- spiritual apathy and inactivity
- any of various slow-moving arboreal edentate mammals (genera Bradypusand Choloepus) that inhabit tropical forests of So. and Central America, hang from the branches back downward, and feed on leaves, shoots, and fruits
sloth bear -n
- a forest-dwelling bear ( Melurus ursinus) of India and adjacent regions that has long black hair, very large claws, and a long snout and that feeds chiefly on insects
sloth·ful ['slȯth-fəl, 'släth- also 'slōth-] -adj, adv, n
- inclined to sloth : indolent
slot machine -n
- a machine whose operation is begun by dropping a coin into a slot
- an orig. coin-operated gambling machine that pays off according to the matching of symbols on wheels spun by a handle
- an electronic version of this machine
slot racing -n
- the racing of slot cars
slotting fee -n
- a fee charged by a vendor in exchange for carrying a manufacturer's product called also slotting allowance
slouch ['slau̇ch] -n
- an awkward fellow : lout
- one that is unimpressive
- a lazy or incompetent person used in negative constructions
- a gait or posture characterized by an ungainly stooping of the head and shoulders or excessive relaxation of body muscles
- to walk, stand, or sit with a slouch : assume a slouch
- droop
- to go or move slowly or reluctantly
- to cause to droop
slouch hat -n
- a soft usu. felt hat with a wide flexible brim
slouchy ['slau̇-chē] -adj, adv, n
- lacking erectness or stiffness (as in form or posture)
- slouchy figures waiting in line
slough ['slü, 'slau̇; in the US (exc NewEng) 'slü is usual for sense 1 with those to whom the sense is familiar; Brit usu 'slau̇ for both senses] -n, adj
- a place of deep mud or mire
- swamp
- an inlet on a river
- backwater
- a creek in a marsh or tide flat
- a state of moral degradation or spiritual dejection
- to engulf in a slough
- to plod through or as if through mud : slog
- the cast-off skin of a snake
- a mass of dead tissue separating from an ulcer
- something that may be shed or cast off
- to become shed or cast off
- to cast off one's skin
- to separate in the form of dead tissue from living tissue
- to crumble slowly and fall away
- to cast off
- to get rid of or discard as irksome, objectionable, or disadvantageous usu. used with off
- to dispose of (a losing card in bridge) by discarding
slough of de·spond [,slau̇-əv-di-'spänd, ,slü-]
- a state of extreme depression
Slo·vak ['slō-,väk, -,vak] -n, adj, adj or n
- a member of a Slavic people of Slovakia
- the Slavic language of the Slovak people
slov·en ['slə-vən] -n
- one habitually negligent of neatness or cleanliness esp. in personal appearance
sloven -adj
- slovenly
Slo·vene ['slō-,vēn] -n, adj, adj or n
- a member of a Slavic people living largely in Slovenia
- the language of the Slovenes
slov·en·ly ['slə-vən-lē also 'slä-] -adj, n, adv
- untidy esp. in personal appearance
- lazily slipshod
- characteristic of a sloven
slow ['slō] -adj, n
- mentally dull : stupid
- naturally inert or sluggish
- lacking in readiness, promptness, or willingness
- not hasty or precipitate
- moving, flowing, or proceeding without speed or at less than usual speed
- exhibiting or marked by low speed
- he moved with slow deliberation
- not acute
- low, gentle
- requiring a long time : gradual
- having qualities that hinder rapid progress or action
- registering behind or below what is correct
- less than the time indicated by another method of reckoning
- that is behind the time at a specified time or place
- lacking in life, animation, or gaiety : boring
- the first chapter is a bit slow
- marked by reduced activity
- slowly
- to make slow or slower : slacken the speed of often used with down or up
- to go or become slower
- production of new cars slow ed sharply
slow·down ['slō-,dau̇n] -n
- a slowing down
slowfoot·ed [-,fu̇-təd] -adj, n
- moving at a very slow pace : plodding
slow·ly [-lē] -adv
- in a slow manner : not quickly, fast, early, rashly, or readily
slow match -n
- a match or fuse made so as to burn slowly and evenly and used for firing (as of blasting charges)
slowmotion ['slō-'mō-shən] -adj
- of, relating to, or being motion-picture or video photography in which the action that has been photographed is made to appear to occur slower than it actually occurred
- slowly moving
slow motion -n
- slow-motion photography
slowpitch ['slō-,pich] -n
- softball which is played with 10 players on each side and in which each pitch must have an arc 3 to 10 feet high and base stealing is not allowed
slow·poke ['slō-,pōk] -n
- a very slow person
slowtwitch ['slō-,twich] -adj
- of, relating to, or being muscle fiber that contracts slowly esp. during sustained physical activity requiring endurance
slow virus -n
- any of various infectious agents now usu. considered to be prions that have a long incubation period between infection and the clinical appearance of the associated disease
slowwave sleep -n
- a state of deep usu. dreamless sleep that occurs regularly during a normal period of sleep with intervening periods of REM sleep and that is characterized by delta waves and a low level of autonomic physiological activity
slowwit·ted [-'wi-təd] -adj
- mentally slow : dull
slow·worm [-,wərm] -n
- a burrowing limbless European lizard ( Anguis fragilis) with small eyes called also blindworm
SLR -abbr
- single-lens reflex
slub ['sləb] -vt
- to draw out and twist (as slivers of wool) slightly
- a soft thick uneven section in a yarn or thread
slub·ber ['slə-bər] -vt
- stain, sully
- to perform in a slipshod fashion
slub·bing ['slə-biŋ] -n
- roving
sludge ['sləj] -n, adj
- mud, mire
- a muddy deposit (as on a riverbed) : ooze
- : a muddy or slushy mass, deposit, or sediment: as
- precipitated solid matter produced by water and sewage treatment processes
- muddy sediment in a steam boiler
- a precipitate or settling (as a mixture of impurities and acid) from a mineral oil
- slush
slue ['slü, 'slau̇; in the US (exc NewEng) 'slü is usual for sense 1 with those to whom the sense is familiar; Brit usu 'slau̇ for both senses] -n, adj
(variant of slough)
- a place of deep mud or mire
- swamp
- an inlet on a river
- backwater
- a creek in a marsh or tide flat
- a state of moral degradation or spiritual dejection
- to engulf in a slough
- to plod through or as if through mud : slog
- the cast-off skin of a snake
- a mass of dead tissue separating from an ulcer
- something that may be shed or cast off
- to become shed or cast off
- to cast off one's skin
- to separate in the form of dead tissue from living tissue
- to crumble slowly and fall away
- to cast off
- to get rid of or discard as irksome, objectionable, or disadvantageous usu. used with off
- to dispose of (a losing card in bridge) by discarding
slug ['sləg] -n
- sluggard
- : a lump, disk, or cylinder of material (as plastic or metal): as
- a musket ball
- bullet
- a piece of metal roughly shaped for subsequent processing
- a 50 gold piece
- a disk for insertion in a slot machine
- one used illegally instead of a coin
- any of numerous chiefly terrestrial pulmonate gastropods (order Stylommatophora) that are found in most parts of the world where there is a reasonable supply of moisture and are closely related to the land snails but are long and wormlike and have only a rudimentary shell often buried in the mantle or entirely absent
- a smooth soft larva of a sawfly or moth that creeps like a mollusk
- a quantity of liquor drunk in one swallow
- a detached mass of fluid (as water vapor or oil) that causes impact (as in a circulating system)
- a strip of metal thicker than a printer's lead
- a line of type cast as one piece
- a usu. temporary type line serving to instruct or identify
- the gravitational unit of mass in the foot-pound-second system to which a pound force can impart an acceleration of one foot per second per second and which is equal to the mass of an object weighing 32 pounds
- to add a printer's slug to
- to drink in gulps often used with down
- a heavy blow esp. with the fist
- to strike heavily with or as if with the fist or a bat
- fight usu. used in the phrase slug it out
slug·abed ['slə-gə-,bed] -n
- a person who stays in bed after the usual or proper time to get up
- sluggard
slug·fest ['sləg-,fest] -n
- a fight marked by the exchange of heavy blows
- a heated dispute
slug·gard ['slə-gərd] -n
- a habitually lazy person
sluggard -adj, n
- sluggardly
slug·gard·ly ['slə-gərd-lē] -adj
- lazily inactive
slug·ger ['slə-gər] -n
- : one that strikes hard or with heavy blows: as
- a prizefighter who punches hard but has usu. little defensive skill
- a hard-hitting batter in baseball
slugging percentage -n
- the ratio (as a rate per thousand) of the total number of bases reached on base hits to official times at bat for a baseball player called also slugging average
slug·gish ['slə-gish] -adj, adv, n
- averse to activity or exertion : indolent
- torpid
- slow to respond (as to stimulation or treatment)
- markedly slow in movement, flow, or growth
- economically inactive or slow
sluice ['slüs] -n
- an artificial passage for water (as in a millstream) fitted with a valve or gate for stopping or regulating flow
- a body of water pent up behind a floodgate
- a dock gate : floodgate
- a stream flowing through a floodgate
- a channel to drain or carry off surplus water
- a long inclined trough usu. on the ground
- such a contrivance paved usu. with riffles to hold quicksilver for catching gold
- to draw off by or through a sluice
- to wash with or in water running through or from a sluice
- to drench with a sudden flow : flush
- to transport (as logs) in a sluice
- to pour as if from a sluice
sluice·way ['slüs-,wā] -n
- an artificial channel into which water is let by a sluice
sluicy ['slü-sē] -adj
- falling copiously or in streams : streaming
slum ['sləm] -n
- a densely populated usu. urban area marked by crowding, dirty run-down housing, poverty, and social disorganization
- to visit slums esp. out of curiosity
- to go somewhere or do something that might be considered beneath one's station sometimes used with it
- slumming it in budget hotels
slum·ber ['sləm-bər] -vi, n
- to sleep lightly : doze
- sleep
- to be in a torpid, slothful, or negligent state
- to lie dormant or latent
slumber -n
- sleep
- a light sleep
- lethargy, torpor
slum·ber·ous ['sləm-b(ə-)rəs] -adj
- heavy with sleep : sleepy
- inducing slumber : soporific
- marked by or suggestive of a state of sleep or lethargy
- a slumberous state of peace
slumber party -n
- an overnight gathering esp. of teenage girls usu. at one of their homes
slum·bery ['sləm-b(ə-)rē] -adj
- slumberous
slum·gul·lion ['sləm-,gəl-yən, ,sləm-'] -n
- a meat stew
slum·lord ['sləm-,lȯrd] -n
- a landlord who receives unusually large profits from substandard properties
slum·my ['slə-mē] -adj
- of, relating to, or suggestive of a slum
slump ['sləmp] -vi
- to fall or sink suddenly
- to drop or slide down suddenly : collapse
- to assume a drooping posture or carriage : slouch
- to go into a slump
- a marked or sustained decline esp. in economic activity or prices
- a period of poor or losing play by a team or individual
- a downward slide of a mass of rock or land
slump·fla·tion [,sləmp-'flā-shən] -n
- a state or period of combined economic decline and rising inflation
slung ['sliŋ] -vt, n
(variant of sling)
- to cast with a sudden and usu. sweeping or swirling motion
- slung the sack over my shoulder
- to throw with or as if with a sling
- political campaigners sling ing mud
- to serve (food) to a customer
- had a job sling ing hamburgers
- an instrument for throwing stones that usu. consists of a short strap with strings fastened to its ends and is whirled round to discharge its missile by centrifugal force
- slingshot
- a usu. looped line (as of strap, chain, or rope) used to hoist, lower, or carry something
- a hanging bandage suspended from the neck to support an arm or hand
- a chain or rope attached to a lower yard at the middle and passing around a mast near the masthead to support a yard
- a chain hooked at the bow and stern of a boat for lowering or hoisting
- a device (as a rope net) for enclosing material to be hoisted by a tackle or crane
- a slinging or hurling of or as if of a missile
- to place in a sling for hoisting or lowering
- to suspend by or as if by a sling
- an alcoholic drink that is served hot or cold and that usu. consists of liquor, sugar, lemon juice, and plain or carbonated water
slung·shot ['sləŋ-,shät] -n
- a striking weapon consisting of a small mass of metal or stone fixed on a flexible handle or strap
slunk ['sliŋk] -vb
(variant of slink)
- to go or move stealthily or furtively (as in fear or shame) : steal
- to move in a sinuous provocative manner
- to give premature birth to used esp. of a domestic animal
- a cow that slink s her calf
- the young of an animal (as a calf) brought forth prematurely
- the flesh or skin of such an animal
- born prematurely or abortively
slur ['slər] -n
- an insulting or disparaging remark or innuendo : aspersion
- a shaming or degrading effect : stain, stigma
- a blurred spot in printed matter : smudge
- to cast aspersions on : disparage
- to make indistinct : obscure
- to slip so as to cause a slur used of a sheet being printed
- to slide or slip over without due mention, consideration, or emphasis
- slurred over certain facts
- to perform hurriedly : skimp
- let him not slur his lesson -- R. W. Emerson
- to perform (successive tones of different pitch) in a smooth or connected manner
- to reduce, make a substitution for, or omit (sounds that would normally occur in an utterance)
- to utter with such reduction, substitution, or omission of sounds
- slip, slide
- drag, shuffle
- a curved line connecting notes to be sung to the same syllable or performed without a break
- the combination of two or more slurred tones
- a slurring manner of speech
slurb ['slərb] -n
- a suburb of wearisomely uniform and usu. poorly constructed houses
slurp ['slərp] -vb, n
- to make a sucking noise while eating or drinking
- to eat or drink noisily or with a sucking sound
slur·ry ['slər-ē, 'slə-rē] -n
- a watery mixture of insoluble matter (as mud, lime, or plaster of paris)
slurry -vt
- to convert into a slurry
slurve ['slərv] -n
- a baseball pitch having the characteristics of both a slider and a curve
slush ['sləsh] -n
- partly melted or watery snow
- loose ice crystals formed during the early stages of freezing of salt water
- soft mud : mire
- refuse grease and fat from cooking esp. on shipboard
- paper pulp in water suspension
- trashy and usu. cheaply sentimental material
- unsolicited writings submitted (as to a magazine) for publication
- to wet or splash with slush
- to make one's way through slush
- to make a splashing sound
slush fund -n
- a fund raised from the sale of refuse to obtain small luxuries or pleasures for a warship's crew
- a fund for bribing public officials or carrying on corruptive propaganda
- an unregulated fund often used for illicit purposes
slushy ['slə-shē] -adj, n
- : being, involving, or resembling slush: as
- full of or covered with slush
- made up of or having the consistency of slush
- having a cheaply sentimental quality
slut ['slət] -n, adj, adv
- a slovenly woman
- a promiscuous woman
- prostitute
- a saucy girl : minx
sly ['slī] -adj, adv, n
- wise in practical affairs
- displaying cleverness : ingenious
- clever in concealing one's aims or ends : furtive
- lacking in straightforwardness and candor : dissembling
- lightly mischievous : roguish
sly·boots ['slī-,büts] -n pl but sing in constr
- a sly tricky person
- one who is cunning or mischievous in an engaging way