What does "slide" mean?

1. (to move smoothly) to move smoothly over a surface like ice or a polished floor. 2. (to decrease) to go down in value, amount, or quality. 3. (playground equipment) a structure with a smooth slope that children climb up and sit on to go down quickly. 4. (presentation page) one page of a digital presentation, like in PowerPoint. 5. (geological fall) when a large amount of earth, rocks, or snow falls down a mountain. 6. (microscope glass) a small piece of glass used to hold things you want to look at under a microscope. 7. (footwear) a simple shoe or sandal that you can easily slip your foot into. 8. (to go somewhere) to go to a place, often quickly or secretly. 9. (to change pitch) to move smoothly from one musical note to another.

slide

v. · n.

US //ˈsɫaɪd// UK //slˈaɪd// slide

Irregular verb past slid past participle slid

1 to move smoothly (v.)
A2 Elementary

to move smoothly over a surface like ice or a polished floor.

to move in continuous contact with a smooth or low-friction surface.

Example

The children loved to slide across the frozen pond in their boots.

Example

The heavy glass door began to slide effortlessly along its track once the rollers were properly lubricated.
- grip
- stick
2 to decrease (v.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Finance

to go down in value, amount, or quality.

to decline or decrease in value, volume, or standard, often gradually.

Example

Stock prices started to slide after the company reported poor earnings.

Example

Economic indicators suggest that consumer confidence may continue to slide if inflation remains at these levels through the next quarter.
- rise
- climb

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3 playground equipment (n.)
A2 Elementary

a structure with a smooth slope that children climb up and sit on to go down quickly.

an item of play equipment consisting of an inclined plane for sliding down.

Example

The toddler was too scared to go down the big slide by himself.

Example

The local council decided to replace the old metal slide with a modern plastic version that wouldn't get as hot in the summer sun.
- chute
4 presentation page (n.)
B1 Intermediate Computing

one page of a digital presentation, like in PowerPoint.

a single page or image shown in a digital presentation or projected onto a screen.

Example

Please look at the chart on the next slide for more details.

Example

The speaker spent too much time on the introductory slide, leaving very little room for the technical data at the end of the deck.
- frame
- page
5 geological fall (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Geology

when a large amount of earth, rocks, or snow falls down a mountain.

the sudden downward movement of a mass of earth, rock, or snow.

Example

The road was closed for two days because of a massive rock slide.

Example

Heavy rainfall triggered a mud slide that threatened several residential properties at the base of the canyon.
- landslide
- avalanche
6 microscope glass (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate Technical Science

a small piece of glass used to hold things you want to look at under a microscope.

a small rectangular glass plate used to support a specimen for microscopic examination.

Example

The student carefully placed a drop of water on the slide.

Example

The lab technician prepared a series of slides to examine the tissue samples for any signs of cellular abnormality.
7 footwear (n.)
B1 Intermediate Informal

a simple shoe or sandal that you can easily slip your foot into.

a backless, open-toed sandal or light shoe.

Example

I usually wear rubber slides when I go to the swimming pool.

Example

She swapped her high heels for a comfortable pair of leather slides as soon as she got home from the wedding.
- sandal
- flip flop
8 to go somewhere (v.)
C1 Advanced Slang

to go to a place, often quickly or secretly.

to move from one location to another; often used in the context of visiting someone.

Example

Are you going to slide to the party later tonight?

Example

He told his friends he might slide by the studio later if he finished his work early enough.
- go
- visit
9 to change pitch (v.)
C1 Advanced Technical Music

to move smoothly from one musical note to another.

to pass from one musical note to another by a continuous change of pitch.

Example

The guitar player used a metal tube to slide between the notes.

Example

The trombonist executed a perfect slide, transitioning between the intervals with remarkable fluidness and precision.
- glissando

Origin

From Middle English sliden, from Old English slīdan (“to slide”), from Proto-West Germanic slīdan, from Proto-Germanic slīdaną (“to slide, glide”), from Proto-Indo-European sléydʰ-e-ti, from sleydʰ- (“slippery”). Cognate with Old High German slītan (“to slide”) (whence German schlittern), Middle Low German slīden (“to slide”), Middle Dutch slīden (“to slide”) (whence Dutch slijderen, frequentative of now obsolete slijden), Vedic Sanskrit स्रेधति (srédhati, “to err, blunder”).

Idioms2 entries