3 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A slew of things is a large number of them. [mainly AM ] □ [+ of ] There have been a whole slew of shooting incidents.
slice ◆◇◇ /sla I s/ (slices , slicing , sliced )
1 N‑COUNT A slice of bread, meat, fruit, or other food is a thin piece that has been cut from a larger piece. □ [+ of ] Try to eat at least four slices of bread a day. □ [+ of ] …water flavoured with a slice of lemon.
2 VERB If you slice bread, meat, fruit, or other food, you cut it into thin pieces. □ [V n] Helen sliced the cake. □ [V n + into ] Slice the steak into long thin slices. ● PHRASAL VERB Slice up means the same as slice . □ [V P n] I sliced up an onion. □ [V n P ] He began slicing the pie up.
3 N‑COUNT You can use slice to refer to a part of a situation or activity. □ [+ of ] Fiction takes up a large slice of the publishing market.
4 → see also sliced , fish slice
5 a slice of the action → see action
▸ slice up → see slice 2 SYNONYMS slice VERB 2
cut: Theo was cutting himself a piece of the pink cake.
carve: Carve the beef into slices.
chop: Chop the onions very finely.
sliced /sla I st/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Sliced bread has been cut into slices before being wrapped and sold. □ …a sliced white loaf.
slick /sl I k/ (slicker , slickest , slicks )
1 ADJ A slick performance, production, or advertisement is skilful and impressive. □ There's a big difference between an amateur movie and a slick Hollywood production. ● slick|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ These actors and directors brought a new sophistication and slickness to modern theatre.
2 ADJ [usu ADJ n] A slick action is done quickly and smoothly, and without any obvious effort. □ The goal that sealed the points was an exhibition of slick passing football.
3 ADJ A slick person speaks easily in a way that is likely to convince people, but is not sincere. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Don't be fooled by slick politicians.
4 N‑COUNT A slick is the same as an oil slick . □ Experts are trying to devise ways to clean up the huge slick.
slick|er /sl I kə r / (slickers )
1 N‑COUNT A slicker is a long loose waterproof coat. [AM ] in BRIT, use oilskins 2 → see also slick
slide ◆◇◇ /sla I d/ (slides , sliding , slid )
1 VERB When something slides somewhere or when you slide it there, it moves there smoothly over or against something. □ [V n with adj] She slid the door open. □ [V n prep/adv] I slid the wallet into his pocket. □ [V prep/adv] Tears were sliding down his cheeks. [Also V ]
2 VERB If you slide somewhere, you move there smoothly and quietly. □ [V prep/adv] He slid into the driver's seat.
3 VERB To slide into a particular mood, attitude, or situation means to gradually start to have that mood, attitude, or situation often without intending to. □ [V + into ] She had slid into a depression.
4 VERB If currencies or prices slide , they gradually become worse or lower in value. [JOURNALISM ] □ [V ] The U.S. dollar continued to slide. □ [V amount] Shares slid 11p to 293p after brokers downgraded their profit estimates. ● N‑COUNT Slide is also a noun. □ [+ in ] …the dangerous slide in oil prices.
5 N‑COUNT A slide is a small piece of photographic film which you project onto a screen so that you can see the picture. □ …a slide show.
6 N‑COUNT A slide is a single page of an electronic presentation which you usually view on a computer or on a larger screen. □ He shows slides revealing that most people think the Government is doing poorly.
7 N‑COUNT A slide is a piece of glass on which you put something that you want to examine through a microscope.
8 N‑COUNT A slide is a piece of playground equipment that has a steep slope for children to go down for fun.
9 PHRASE If you let something slide , you allow it to get into a worse state or condition by not attending to it. □ The company had let environmental standards slide. SYNONYMS slide VERB 1
slip: He had slipped on an icy pavement.
glide: Waiters glide between tightly packed tables bearing trays of pasta.
slither: Robert lost his footing and slithered down the bank.
sli de rule (slide rules ) N‑COUNT A slide rule is an instrument that you use for calculating numbers. It looks like a ruler and has a middle part that slides backwards and forwards.
sli d|ing doo r (sliding doors ) N‑COUNT Sliding doors are doors which slide together rather than swinging on hinges.
sli d|ing sca le (sliding scales ) N‑COUNT [usu sing] Payments such as wages or taxes that are calculated on a sliding scale are higher or lower depending on various different factors. □ [+ of ] Many practitioners have a sliding scale of fees.
slight ◆◇◇ /sla I t/ (slighter , slightest , slights , slighting , slighted )