slice

[ slahys ]

noun

1. a thin, flat piece cut from something:

   a slice of bread.

2. a part, portion, or share:

   a slice of land.

3. any of various implements with a thin, broad blade or part, as for turning food in a frying pan, serving fish at the table, or taking up printing ink; spatula.
4. Sports.
   1. the path described by a ball, as in baseball or golf, that curves in a direction corresponding to the side from which it was struck.
   2. a ball describing such a path.
5. Tennis. a stroke executed by hitting down on the ball with an underhand motion and thus creating backspin.

verb (used with object)

, sliced, slic·ing.

1. to cut into slices; divide into parts.
2. to cut through or cleave with or as if with a knife:

   The ship sliced the sea.

3. to cut off or remove as a slice or slices (sometimes followed by off, away, from, etc.).
4. to remove by means of a slice, slice bar, or similar implement.
5. Sports. to hit (a ball) so as to result in a slice.

verb (used without object)

, sliced, slic·ing.

1. to slice something.
2. to admit of being sliced.
3. Sports.
   1. (of a player) to slice the ball.
   2. (of a ball) to describe a slice in flight.

slice

/ slaɪs /

noun

1. a thin flat piece cut from something having bulk

   a slice of pork

2. a share or portion

   a slice of the company's revenue

3. any of various utensils having a broad flat blade and resembling a spatula
4. in golf, tennis, etc
   1. the flight of a ball that travels obliquely because it has been struck off centre
   2. the action of hitting such a shot
   3. the shot so hit

verb

1. to divide or cut (something) into parts or slices
2. whenintr, usually foll by through to cut in a clean and effortless manner
3. whenintr, foll by through to move or go (through something) like a knife

   the ship sliced through the water

4. usually foll byoff, from, away, etc to cut or be cut (from) a larger piece
5. tr to remove by use of a slicing implement
6. to hit (a ball) with a slice
7. tr rowing to put the blade of the oar into (the water) slantwise

Derived Forms

• ˈsliceable, adjective
• ˈslicer, noun

Other Words From

• slicea·ble adjective
• slicing·ly adverb
• pre·slice verb (used with object) presliced preslicing
• un·sliced adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slice¹

1300–50; (noun) Middle English s ( c ) lice < Old French esclice, noun derivative of esclicer to split up < Frankish *slitjan, akin to Old English slītan, Old Norse slīta, Dutch slījten ( slit ); (v.) late Middle English sklicen < Old French esclicer

Word History and Origins

Origin of slice¹

C14: from Old French esclice a piece split off, from esclicier to splinter

Idioms and Phrases

In addition to the subsequent idiom beginning with slice , also see greatest thing since sliced bread ; no matter how you slice it .

Example Sentences

“Any way you slice it, our estimates are that the benefits are going to vastly outweigh the costs,” said Gregory Pierce, research director of the Luskin Center.

From Los Angeles Times

Bears are growing bolder and seeking their own slice of the California dream.

From Los Angeles Times

Directing his hips one way, Koch would shape to kick it left or right but cut across the ball and slice it in the other direction.

From BBC

The state was simply too large and disparate — physically, psychically — for a lawmaker representing a tiny slice of the landscape to make the leap to statewide success.

From Los Angeles Times

To start with, Spencer had a 13-week contract and little idea that she was helping to create a unique slice of British life.

From BBC

Related Words

• portion
• sliver
• wedge