slur
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
v.to speak in a way that is hard to understand because the sounds run together.
v.to articulate speech sounds indistinctly, often by failing to separate words or syllables clearly.
Simple“He was so tired that he started to slur his words.”
In context“The witness began to slur his speech under the pressure of the cross-examination, making it difficult for the court reporter to maintain an accurate transcript.”
SynonymsmumblegarbleAntonymsenunciatearticulate - 02 C1 Advanced
v.to say something insulting or unfair about someone to damage their reputation.
v.to cast aspersions upon someone's character or to utter a derogatory remark intended to discredit.
Simple“The politician was careful not to slur his opponent during the debate.”
In context“The editorial was criticised for attempting to slur the reputation of the activist without providing any concrete evidence of wrongdoing.”
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
v.to play or sing a group of musical notes smoothly without a break between them.
v.to perform a sequence of notes in a legato style, ensuring a smooth transition without separate articulation.
Simple“The teacher asked the violinist to slur the next four notes.”
In context“The composer indicated that the woodwinds should slur the ascending scale to create a more fluid, ethereal atmosphere in the second movement.”
SynonymslegatoAntonymsstaccato - 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.a very offensive word or remark used to insult a person's race, religion, or background.
n.a derogatory or insulting term, specifically one directed at a particular social, racial, or ethnic group.
Simple“The player was banned for using a racial slur during the game.”
In context“The use of a homophobic slur in the broadcast resulted in an immediate apology from the network and a formal investigation by the regulator.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.a curved line over musical notes that shows they should be played smoothly.
n.a curved line placed over or under a group of notes to indicate they are to be played legato.
Simple“Make sure you follow the slur marked in the third measure.”
In context“The pianist noted that the slur extended across the bar line, requiring a seamless connection between the two phrases.”
“Her words were slurred and hard to comprehend: "I feel my body doesn't belong to me.”
“The American alligator has meant many things to Americans, at times prized for its hide, adopted as a mascot and weaponized as a slur.”
From Middle English sloor (“thin or fluid mud”). Cognate with Middle Low German sluren (“to trail in mud”). Also related to dialectal Norwegian sløra (“to be careless, to scamp, dawdle”), Danish sløre (“to wobble, be loose”) (especially for wheels); compare Old Norse slóðra (“to drag oneself along”). * (an extremely offensive term): Influenced by various compounds of sense 1 such as racial slur, ethnic slur, etc.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.