ENGLISH
REFERENCE

slash

v. · n.
US //ˈsɫæʃ// UK //slˈæʃ// slash
  1. 1 to cut with a blade (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to make a long, deep cut with a knife or another sharp object using a quick, swinging motion.

    to cut with a forceful, sweeping stroke of a sharp instrument.

    Example

    The thief slashed the canvas of the painting to remove it from the frame.

    Example

    Vandals had slashed the tyres of several vehicles parked along the quiet residential street overnight.
  2. 2 to reduce greatly (v.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    to reduce something, like prices or costs, by a large amount very quickly.

    to reduce prices, costs, or quantities drastically and often suddenly.

    Example

    The shop slashed its prices by fifty percent to attract more customers before closing.

    Example

    The government announced plans to slash public spending in an effort to reduce the national deficit before the next election cycle.
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 the punctuation mark (n.)
    B1 Intermediate

    the slanted line (/) used in writing to separate words, numbers, or options.

    the virgule or solidus symbol (/) used to indicate alternatives, ratios, or to separate components in a web address.

    Example

    You need to put a slash between the day and the month when writing the date.

    Example

    The forward slash is a standard delimiter in file paths for many operating systems and web protocols.
  2. 4 urination (n.)
    C1 Advanced British English Slang Vulgar

    a very informal way to say you need to go to the toilet.

    an act of urination; highly informal and typically restricted to British English.

    Example

    He had to stop at the petrol station because he really needed a slash.

    Example

    After several pints at the pub, he went looking for the toilets to have a quick slash before the long walk home.

    Usage

    Usually used with the verb 'have' or 'take'.
  3. 5 fan fiction (n.)
    C1 Advanced Slang

    stories written by fans that focus on romantic relationships between two male characters.

    a genre of fan fiction focused on romantic or sexual relationships between fictional characters of the same sex, typically male.

    Example

    She spent the weekend reading slash about her favourite sci-fi characters.

    Example

    The online community became a hub for writers producing slash based on the popular television series.

    Teacher's tip

    This term is specific to internet subcultures and fan communities; it may be unfamiliar to general English speakers.
    • fanfic
Etymology 1

Late Middle English, originally a verb of uncertain etymology. Perhaps of imitative origin, or possibly from Old French esclachier (“to break in pieces”), a variant of esclater, which is likely a Germanic borrowing, from Frankish *slaitan (“to slit, tear”). Used in the Wycliffe Bible as slascht (see 1 Kings 5:18) but otherwise unattested until 16th century. Conjunctive use from various applications of the punctuation mark ⟨/⟩. See also slash fiction.

Etymology 2

Uncertain. Compare Scots slash (“large splash”), possibly from Old French esclache. Slang use for urination attested from the 1950s.

Etymology 3

Uncertain. Compare British dialectal slashy (“wet and dirty, miry”) and Scots slash (“act of walking forcefully through water or mud”) and slatch (“wet and muddy place, mire”). Perhaps related to Swedish slask (“slush”). Compare also slash (“clearing in a forest”): in many cases it is difficult to tell whether that sense or this one is meant. (Also compare flash (“a marsh; a pool of water”).)

Etymology 4

See slatch

Word family

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