1 N‑COUNT A slope is the side of a mountain, hill, or valley. □ Saint-Christo is perched on a mountain slope. □ [+ of ] …the lower slopes of the Himalayas.
2 N‑COUNT [usu sing] A slope is a surface that is at an angle, so that one end is higher than the other. □ The street must have been on a slope.
3 VERB If a surface slopes , it is at an angle, so that one end is higher than the other. □ [V adv/prep] The bank sloped down sharply to the river. □ [V ] The garden sloped quite steeply. ● slop|ing ADJ □ …a brick building, with a sloping roof. □ …the gently sloping beach.
4 VERB If something slopes , it leans to the right or to the left rather than being upright. □ [V adv/prep] The writing sloped backwards.
5 N‑COUNT [usu sing] The slope of something is the angle at which it slopes. □ The slope increases as you go up the curve. □ [+ of ] …a slope of ten degrees.
6 → see also ski slope
7 slippery slope → see slippery
slo p|ping ou t also slopping-out N‑UNCOUNT In prisons where prisoners have to use buckets as toilets, slopping out is the practice in which they empty the buckets. [BRIT ]
slop|py /slɒ pi/ (sloppier , sloppiest )
1 ADJ If you describe someone's work or activities as sloppy , you mean they have been done in a careless and lazy way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ He has little patience for sloppy work from colleagues.
2 ADJ If you describe someone or something as sloppy , you mean that they are sentimental and romantic. □ It's ideal for people who like a sloppy movie.
slosh /slɒ ʃ/ (sloshes , sloshing , sloshed )
1 VERB If a liquid sloshes around or if you slosh it around , it moves around in different directions. □ [V adv/prep] The water sloshed around the bridge. □ [V n adv/prep] The label recommends sloshing the mouthwash around in the mouth for 30 seconds. □ [V ] The champagne sloshed and spilt. [Also V n]
2 VERB If you slosh through mud or water, you walk through it in an energetic way, so that the mud or water makes sounds as you walk. □ [V adv/prep] The two girls joined arms and sloshed through the mud together.
sloshed /slɒ ʃt/ ADJ [v-link ADJ ] If someone is sloshed , they have drunk too much alcohol. [mainly BRIT , INFORMAL ] □ Everyone else was getting sloshed.
slot /slɒ t/ (slots , slotting , slotted )
1 N‑COUNT A slot is a narrow opening in a machine or container, for example a hole that you put coins in to make a machine work. □ He dropped a coin into the slot and dialed.
2 VERB If you slot something into something else, or if it slots into it, you put it into a space where it fits. □ [V n + into/in/onto ] The seatbelt buckle has red LED lights to indicate where to slot the belt in. □ [V + into/in/onto ] The car seat belt slotted into place easily. □ [V n with adv] She slotted in a fresh filter.
3 N‑COUNT [oft n N ] A slot in a schedule or scheme is a place in it where an activity can take place. □ Visitors can book a time slot a week or more in advance.
sloth /sloʊ θ/ (sloths )
1 N‑UNCOUNT Sloth is laziness, especially with regard to work. [FORMAL ] □ He admitted a lack of motivation and a feeling of sloth.
2 N‑COUNT A sloth is an animal from Central and South America. Sloths live in trees and move very slowly.
sloth|ful /sloʊ θfʊl/ ADJ Someone who is slothful is lazy and unwilling to make an effort to work. [FORMAL ] □ He was not slothfuclass="underline" he had been busy all night.
slo t ma|chine (slot machines ) N‑COUNT A slot machine is a machine from which you can get food or cigarettes or on which you can gamble. You make it work by putting coins into a slot.
slo t|ted spoo n (slotted spoons ) N‑COUNT A slotted spoon is a large plastic or metal spoon with holes in it. It is used to take food out of a liquid.
slouch /slaʊ tʃ/ (slouches , slouching , slouched )
1 VERB If someone slouches , they sit or stand with their shoulders and head bent so they look lazy and unattractive. □ [V ] Try not to slouch when you are sitting down. □ [V prep/adv] She has recently begun to slouch over her typewriter.
2 VERB If someone slouches somewhere, they walk around slowly with their shoulders and head bent looking lazy or bored. □ [V adv/prep] Most of the time, they slouch around in the fields.
slough /slʌ f/ (sloughs , sloughing , sloughed ) VERB When a plant sloughs its leaves, or an animal such as a snake sloughs its skin, the leaves or skin come off naturally. □ [V n] All reptiles have to slough their skin to grow. [Also V ] ● PHRASAL VERB Slough off means the same as slough . □ [V P n] Our bodies slough off dead cells. [Also V n P ]
slov|en|ly /slʌ v ə nli/ ADJ [usu ADJ n] Slovenly people are careless, untidy, or inefficient. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Lisa was irritated by the slovenly attitude of her boyfriend Sean.
slow ◆◆◇ /sloʊ / (slower , slowest , slows , slowing , slowed )
1 ADJ Something that is slow moves, happens, or is done without much speed. □ The traffic is heavy and slow. □ Electric whisks should be used on a slow speed. □ …slow, regular breathing. ● slow|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ He spoke slowly and deliberately. □ Christian backed slowly away. ● slow|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ She lowered the glass with calculated slowness.