Slide Definition and Meaning
By Fiza Rafique & Maham Liaqat — Updated on March 5, 2024
Slide means to move smoothly along a surface while maintaining continuous contact with it. e.g., She let the book slide across the table to her friend.
Table of Contents
Slide Definitions
Playground Equipment: A structure for children to climb up and slide down.
The park's new slide is a hit with the kids.
Photographic Transparency: A small piece of film set in a frame for projection.
He showed slides from his trip during the presentation.
Geological Phenomenon: The process of land moving down a slope.
The heavy rain triggered a mud slide.
Presentation Component: A single page of a presentation.
Each slide in her PowerPoint was carefully designed.
Movement in Sports: A technique where a player moves along the ground.
The baseball player made a perfect slide into second base.
To slip out of the proper position.
The book slid off the shelf during the earthquake.
A flat piece of glass on which specimens are placed for examination under a microscope.
The scientist placed the tissue sample on a slide.
To insert or withdraw smoothly and quickly.
She slid the letter into the envelope.
A part of a musical instrument, such as a trombone, that moves to change the instrument's pitch.
He adjusted the slide to hit the right note.
To move over a surface while maintaining smooth continuous contact.
To participate in a sport that involves such movement
Sliding for a medal in luge.
To lose a secure footing or positioning; slip
Slid on the ice and fell.
To pass smoothly and quietly; glide
Slid past the door without anyone noticing.
(Baseball) To drop down from a running into a lying or diving position when approaching a base so as to avoid being tagged out.
To be ignored or not dealt with; drop
Let the matter slide.
To decrease
Prices slid in morning trading.
To become less favorable or less desirable
Economic conditions have begun to slide.
To cause to slide or slip
Slid the glass down to the other end of the counter.
To place covertly or deftly
Slid the stolen merchandise into his pocket.
A sliding movement or action.
A smooth, usually inclined surface or track for sliding
A water slide.
A playground apparatus for children to slide on, typically consisting of a smooth chute climbed onto by means of a ladder.
A part that operates by sliding, as the U-shaped section of tube on a trombone that is moved to change the pitch.
A period of decline or loss
"The semiconductor industry is heading for a cyclical slide" (New York Times).
An image on a transparent base for projection on a screen.
One of a series of images projected digitally as part of a presentation.
A small glass plate for mounting specimens to be examined under a microscope.
A fall of a mass of rock, earth, or snow down a slope; an avalanche or landslide.
A backless shoe with an open toe.
A slight portamento used in violin playing, passing quickly from one note to another.
An ornamentation consisting of two grace notes approaching the main note.
A small metal or glass tube worn over a finger or held in the hand, used in playing bottleneck-style guitar.
The bottleneck style of guitar playing.
(ergative) To (cause to) move in continuous contact with a surface.
He slid the boat across the grass.
The safe slid slowly.
Snow slides down the side of a mountain.
(intransitive) To move on a low-friction surface.
The car slid on the ice.
To drop down and skid into a base.
Jones slid into second.
(intransitive) To lose one’s balance on a slippery surface.
He slid while going around the corner.
(transitive) To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip.
To alter the meaning of a question by sliding in a word
Schoolchildren sometimes slide each other notes during class.
(transitive) To subtly direct a facial expression at (someone).
He slid me a dirty look.
To pass inadvertently.
(intransitive) To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance.
A ship or boat slides through the water.
To decrease in amount or value.
The stock market slid yesterday after major stocks released weak quarterly results.
(music) To smoothly pass from one note to another by bending the pitch upwards or downwards.
(regional) To ride down snowy hills upon a toboggan or similar object for recreation.
To go; to move from one place or to another.
(soccer) To kick so that the ball slides along the ground with little or no turning.
An item of play equipment that children can climb up and then slide down again.
The long, red slide was great fun for the kids.
A surface of ice, snow, butter, etc. on which someone can slide for amusement or as a practical joke.
The falling of large amounts of rubble, earth and stones down the slope of a hill or mountain; avalanche.
The slide closed the highway.
An inclined plane on which heavy bodies slide by the force of gravity, especially one constructed on a mountainside for conveying logs by sliding them down.
A mechanism consisting of a part which slides on or against a guide.
The act of sliding; smooth, even passage or progress.
A slide on the ice
A lever that can be moved in two directions.
A valve that works by sliding, such as in a trombone.
(photography) A transparent plate bearing an image to be projected to a screen.
A page of a computer presentation package such as PowerPoint.
I still need to prepare some slides for my presentation tomorrow.
(sciences) A flat, usually rectangular piece of glass or similar material on which a prepared sample may be viewed through a microscope Generally referred to as a microscope slide.
(baseball) The act of dropping down and skidding into a base
A hand-held device made of smooth, hard material, used in the practice of slide guitar.
A lively dance from County Kerry, in 12/8 time.
(geology) A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure.
(music) A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below.
(phonetics) A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
A clasp or brooch for a belt, etc.
A pocket in one's pants (trousers).
With ten dollars in his slide
(footwear) A shoe that is backless and open-toed.
(speech therapy) A voluntary stutter used as a technique to control stuttering in one's speech.
A promiscuous woman, slut.
To move along the surface of any body by slipping, or without walking or rolling; to slip; to glide; as, snow slides down the mountain's side.
Especially, to move over snow or ice with a smooth, uninterrupted motion, as on a sled moving by the force of gravity, or on the feet.
They bathe in summer, and in winter slide.
To pass inadvertently.
Beware thou slide not by it.
To pass along smoothly or unobservedly; to move gently onward without friction or hindrance; as, a ship or boat slides through the water.
Ages shall slide away without perceiving.
Parts answering parts shall slide into a whole.
To slip when walking or standing; to fall.
Their foot shall slide in due time.
To pass from one note to another with no perceptible cassation of sound.
To pass out of one's thought as not being of any consequence.
With good hope let he sorrow slide.
With a calm carelessness letting everything slide.
To cause to slide; to thrust along; as, to slide one piece of timber along another.
To pass or put imperceptibly; to slip; as, to slide in a word to vary the sense of a question.
The act of sliding; as, a slide on the ice.
Smooth, even passage or progress.
A better slide into their business.
That on which anything moves by sliding.
That which operates by sliding.
A plate or slip of glass on which is a picture or delineation to be exhibited by means of a magic lantern, stereopticon, or the like; a plate on which is an object to be examined with a microscope.
The descent of a mass of earth, rock, or snow down a hill or mountain side; as, a land slide, or a snow slide; also, the track of bare rock left by a land slide.
A small dislocation in beds of rock along a line of fissure.
A grace consisting of two or more small notes moving by conjoint degrees, and leading to a principal note either above or below.
A sound which, by a gradual change in the position of the vocal organs, passes imperceptibly into another sound.
Same as Guide bar, under Guide.
A small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study
(geology) the descent of a large mass of earth or rocks or snow etc.
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale;
The violinist was indulgent with his swoops and slides
Plaything consisting of a sloping chute down which children can slide
The act of moving smoothly along a surface while remaining in contact with it;
His slide didn't stop until the bottom of the hill
The children lined up for a coast down the snowy slope
A transparency mounted in a frame; viewed with a slide projector
Sloping channel through which things can descend
Move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner;
The wheels skidded against the sidewalk
To pass or move unobtrusively or smoothly;
They slid through the wicket in the big gate
Move smoothly along a surface
He slid the money over to the other gambler
Movement Technique: The act of moving smoothly over a surface.
The dancer's slide across the floor was graceful.
Slip or Decrease: A decrease in position, value, or condition.
The stock's slide worried investors.
Guitar Accessory: A tubular or solid piece used to create glissando effects.
The guitarist used a slide to play the blues melody.
Part of an Instrument: A movable part of a musical instrument for changing pitch.
The trombone player adjusted the slide for each note.
Clothing Fastener: A device for fastening or adjusting clothing.
The bag's strap has a slide to adjust its length.
To move smoothly and continuously along a surface, often with the aid of gravity.
The glass slid across the table and fell off.
A playground equipment piece consisting of a smooth slope for children to slide down.
The kids queued for their turn on the slide.
To decrease or deteriorate gradually.
Stock prices began to slide after the negative news report.
A smooth, gliding step in dance.
The dancer executed a perfect slide to the left.
To pass smoothly into a condition or situation, often without intention.
We slid into conversation as if no time had passed.
A decline or reduction.
There was a significant slide in production last quarter.
Slide Snonyms
Sweep
To move swiftly and smoothly.
The wind swept the leaves along the street.
Glide
To move smoothly and continuously along, as if without effort or resistance.
The skater glided across the ice.
Slip
To move quietly and smoothly, especially without attracting attention.
He slipped into the room unnoticed.
Slink
To move smoothly and quietly with gliding steps, especially as if to go unnoticed.
The cat slinked through the tall grass.
Descend
To move downward, typically gradually.
The path descends to the valley.
Skid
To slide, typically uncontrollably, on slippery ground or as a result of stopping or turning too quickly.
The car skidded on the icy road.
Drift
To be carried slowly by a current of air or water.
The boat drifted out to sea.
Shift
To move or cause to move from one place to another, especially over a small distance.
She shifted in her seat uncomfortably.
Coast
To move without being continuously propelled; to move by the force of gravity or momentum.
We coasted downhill on our bikes.
Lurch
To make an abrupt, unsteady, uncontrolled movement or series of movements; technically different but can imply a sudden slide.
The train lurched forward unexpectedly.
Slide Idioms & Phrases
Slide off one's back
To not be affected by criticism or insults.
Negative comments just slide off his back; he never takes them personally.
Let it slide
To ignore or overlook a mistake or offense.
Even though he was late, she decided to let it slide this time.
Slide by on
To manage or get by with minimal effort.
He's been sliding by on charm, but sooner or later, he'll need to work hard.
Slide into place
To effortlessly move into the correct position or situation.
After months of struggle, everything finally started to slide into place for the new project.
Slide into despair
To gradually become very sad or lose hope.
After the news of the tragedy, he could feel himself sliding into despair.
Slide off to sleep
To fall asleep smoothly or quickly.
As the rain pattered on the roof, she slid off to sleep.
A slide toward
A gradual movement or shift towards a particular state or condition.
The country's slide toward democracy was slow but steady.
Slide under the radar
To go unnoticed or undetected.
The indie film slid under the radar but gained a cult following.
On a slippery slide
In a situation that is rapidly deteriorating or getting worse.
The company's finances were on a slippery slide after the failed product launch.
Make it slide
To allow something to happen without intervention, even if it's not ideal.
I didn't agree with the decision, but I made it slide for the sake of peace.
Slide over
To move or make space for someone or something.
He slid over to give her room on the bench.
Give someone the slide
To avoid someone or gradually end a relationship with them.
After the argument, she started to give him the slide, becoming increasingly distant.
Slide into DMs
To send someone a direct message on social media, usually with a romantic or flirtatious intent.
He finally decided to slide into her DMs after weeks of hesitation.
Let something slide by
To miss an opportunity through inattention or by not taking action.
She let the chance for promotion slide by because she didn't speak up.
Slide into
To gradually start to be in a particular state or condition.
The meeting slid into chaos after the disagreement.
Slide rule
An analog computer used primarily for multiplication and division, and also for functions such as roots, logarithms, and trigonometry.
Before calculators, engineers often used a slide rule for calculations.
Slide into the weekend
To transition into the weekend in a relaxed and effortless manner.
After a long week at work, everyone was ready to slide into the weekend.
Slip and slide
To move in a way that is not controlled, often leading to accidents.
The hallway was wet, causing some to slip and slide.
Slide into your seat
To take your place (in a meeting, classroom, etc.) smoothly and without attracting attention.
She arrived late but managed to slide into her seat unnoticed.
A slide of hand
A quick or deceitful action that is meant to deceive.
The magician's trick was nothing but a clever slide of hand.
On the slide
Experiencing a decline in quality, popularity, or health.
After the lead singer left, the band was on the slide.
Take a slide
To experience a decline or deterioration.
After the scandal, his career took a slide.
Slide home
In baseball, to reach home plate safely by sliding.
He slid home just in time to score the winning run.
Slide through the cracks
To be overlooked or missed in a system or process.
Due to a clerical error, his application slid through the cracks.
Slide into view
To become visible or come into recognition gradually.
As we approached the coast, the lighthouse slid into view through the fog.
A slide show
A presentation or series of images projected on a screen.
They prepared a slide show for the wedding guests.
Slide guitar
A style of guitar playing that involves using a slide to press against the strings.
His love for blues music inspired him to learn slide guitar.
Slide tackle
A method in soccer where a player slides on the ground to kick the ball away from an opponent.
The defender's timely slide tackle prevented a goal.
The big slide
A metaphor for a significant decline or downfall.
The report predicted the big slide in market values.
Slide of life
A reference to a particular phase or aspect of one's life.
The documentary captures a fascinating slide of life in the 80s.
Slide into trouble
To gradually get into a difficult or problematic situation.
Without realizing it, he slid into trouble with the law.
Slide by
To pass or go by easily or unnoticeably.
The days seem to slide by when we're together.
Smooth as a slide
Something very smooth or effortless.
The operation went smooth as a slide, without any complications.
Slide Example Sentences
The children couldn't wait to go down the slide again.
The soccer player executed a slide tackle to get the ball.
He watched the ice cube slide down the counter.
The carpenter made the drawer slide open smoothly.
Their grades began to slide after missing several classes.
The hikers were cautious of the gravel path, fearing a slide.
She carefully placed the slide under the microscope.
After the rain, the backyard was so slippery, they could slide on it.
She used a water slide decal to decorate her mug.
During the lecture, he switched to the next slide.
He adjusted the slide on his belt to make it tighter.
They used a slide to project images on the wall.
The curtain slide easily on the new rod.
The company's profits have continued to slide this year.
Adjusting the slide, the musician prepared for his solo.
Slide the window open to let some fresh air in.
She enjoyed the slide guitar part of the song the most.
The athlete practiced her slide into base during practice.
Preparing the slide, the researcher added a drop of dye.
The ice caused the car to slide off the road.
The children spent hours playing on the slide at the park.
With a graceful slide, she joined the rest of the dancers.
The economic downturn led to a slide in consumer confidence.
The player's impressive slide saved the ball from going out of bounds.
Common Curiosities
How many syllables are in slide?
Slide has one syllable.
What is a stressed syllable in slide?
The entire word slide is stressed, as it consists of only one syllable.
How is slide used in a sentence?
Slide can be used as both a noun and a verb to describe the action of moving smoothly over a surface or an object designed for sliding.
What is the verb form of slide?
The verb form is "slide," as in to move smoothly along a surface.
What is the first form of slide?
The first form of slide is "slide," as in the present tense.
How do we divide slide into syllables?
Slide is a single-syllable word and is not divided into smaller parts.
What is another term for slide?
Another term for slide could be "glide" when used as a verb, and "slippery slope" or "chute" when used as a noun.
Why is it called slide?
It is called slide because it captures the action of moving smoothly over a surface, maintaining continuous contact.
What is the third form of slide?
The third form of slide is "slid" or "slidden" (less commonly used), used as the past participle.
What is the pronunciation of slide?
Slide is pronounced as /slaɪd/.
Is slide a negative or positive word?
Slide is neutral; its connotation depends on the context in which it is used.
Is slide a countable noun?
Yes, when used as a noun, slide is countable. E.g., "There are several slides in the presentation."
Is slide a collective noun?
No, slide is not typically used as a collective noun.
What is the root word of slide?
The root word of slide comes from the Old English "slidan," meaning to glide or slip.
What is the singular form of slide?
The singular form is "slide," referring to one instance of sliding or one slide structure.
What is the opposite of slide?
The opposite of slide could be "climb" or "ascend" when used as a verb, and "incline" or "ramp" when used as a noun.
Is the slide term a metaphor?
Slide can be used metaphorically to describe a smooth transition or decline in situations.
Is the word slide imperative?
Slide can be used in the imperative mood as a command or instruction, e.g., "Slide to the left."
What part of speech is slide?
Slide can be both a noun, referring to a structure for sliding or a flat piece of material for examination, and a verb, describing the action of moving smoothly.
Is slide an adverb?
No, slide is not an adverb.
Is the word “slide” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
In sentences where "slide" is a verb, it can have a direct object, e.g., "Slide the door closed." Slide itself cannot be an indirect object.
Which vowel is used before slide?
The use of a vowel or consonant before "slide" depends on the preceding word, not on "slide" itself.
Which conjunction is used with slide?
Conjunctions like "and" or "but" can be used with "slide" to connect ideas or elements in a sentence.
Is slide a noun or adjective?
Slide is primarily a noun and a verb. It is not commonly used as an adjective.
Which preposition is used with slide?
Prepositions like "down," "into," and "across" are commonly used with "slide," depending on the context.
What is the second form of slide?
The second form of slide is "slid," as in the simple past tense.
What is the plural form of slide?
The plural form is "slides," referring to multiple instances of sliding actions or multiple slide structures.
Is slide an abstract noun?
When used as a noun, slide refers to concrete objects or concepts and is not typically considered an abstract noun.
Is slide a vowel or consonant?
The first letter of slide, "s," is a consonant.
Is the word slide Gerund?
Sliding can be a gerund when used as a noun, indicating the action of moving smoothly, e.g., "Sliding on ice can be dangerous."
Which determiner is used with slide?
Determiners such as "a," "the," or possessive pronouns can be used with slide, depending on the context, e.g., "a slide" or "the slide."
Which article is used with slide?
The articles "a," "an," or "the" can be used with "slide," depending on whether it's being used as a noun or verb and the context of the sentence.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
