slope
UK /sləʊp/ · US /sloʊp/ noun, verb, adjective, adverb
- noun A surface that either inclines or declines in a regular manner from the perspective of an observer. “the slope”
- noun An area of ground that tends evenly upward or downward. “I had to climb a small slope to get to the site.”
- noun The degree to which a surface tends upward or downward. “The road has a very sharp downward slope at that point.”
- noun (mathematics, of a line, with respect to a fixed coordinate system) The ratio of the vertical and horizontal distances between two points lying on the line. “The slope of this line is 0.5”
- noun (mathematics, of a curve at a given point; sometimes proscribed, see Usage notes) The slope of the line tangent to the curve at the given point. “The slope of a parabola increases linearly with x.”
- noun The angle a roof surface makes with the horizontal, expressed as a ratio of the units of vertical rise to the units of horizontal length (sometimes referred to as run). “The slope of an asphalt shingle roof system should be 4:12 or greater.”
- noun a concept or idea which suggests a type of oblique or accelerating progression “The habit of lying can quickly become a slippery slope.”
- noun (vulgar, offensive, ethnic slur) An East or Southeast Asian person, especially one that is Chinese.
- verb (intransitive) To tend steadily upward or downward. “The road slopes sharply down at that point.”
- verb (transitive) To form with a slope; to give an oblique or slanting direction to; to incline or slant. “to slope the ground in a garden; to slope a piece of cloth in cutting a garment”
- verb (UK, colloquial, usually followed by a preposition) To try to move surreptitiously. “I sloped in through the back door, hoping my boss wouldn't see me.”
- verb (military) To hold a rifle at a slope with forearm perpendicular to the body in front holding the butt, the rifle resting on the shoulder. “The order was given to "slope arms".”
- adjective (obsolete) Sloping.
- adverb (obsolete) slopingly
Synonyms
bank embankment gradient hill incline cant first derivative Chinaman Chink elevation grade side pitch
Etymology
From aslope (adjective, adverb).
Webster’s 1913
- noun An oblique direction; a line or direction including from a horizontal line or direction; also, sometimes, an inclination, as of one line or surface to another.
- noun Any ground whose surface forms an angle with the plane of the horizon.
- adjective Sloping. "Down the slope hills." Milton.
- adverb In a sloping manner. [Obs.] Milton.
Etymology [Formed (like abode fr. abide) from OE. slipen. See Slip, v. i.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “slope”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details