/sloʊp/, /sləʊp/
OriginFrom aslope (adjective, adverb).
- countable, uncountableAn area of ground that tends evenly upward or downward.
“I had to climb a small slope to get to the site.”
“a steep slope”
- countable, uncountableThe degree to which a surface tends upward or downward.
“The road has a very sharp downward slope at that point.”
- countable, uncountableThe ratio of the vertical and horizontal distances between two points lying on the line.
“The slope of this line is 0.5”
- countable, proscribed, sometimes, uncountableThe slope of the line tangent to the curve at the given point.
“The slope of a parabola increases linearly with x.”
- countable, uncountableThe 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.”
- intransitiveTo tend steadily upward or downward.
“The road slopes sharply down at that point.”
“If the afternoon was fine they strolled together in the park, very slowly, and with pauses to draw breath wherever the ground sloped upward. The slightest effort made the patient cough.”
“St. Lawrence Station is very prettily situated, high cliffs on the left, and the lush vegetation of the Undercliff sloping down to the sea on the right.”
- transitiveTo 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”
- UK, colloquial, usuallyTo try to move surreptitiously.
“I sloped in through the back door, hoping my boss wouldn't see me.”
“She watched him disappear out of sight, before sloping back to her room.”
- 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".”
- obsoleteSloping.
“A bank not steep, but gently slope.”
“Down the slope hills.”
- obsoleteslopingly
“So promis'd he; and Uriel to his charge
Return'd on that bright beam , whose point now rais'd ,
Bore him slope downward to the sun”
Formsslopes(plural) · slopes(present, singular, third-person) · sloping(participle, present) · sloped(participle, past) · sloped(past) · more slope(comparative) · most slope(superlative)