slope

[ slohp ]

verb (used without object)

, sloped, slop·ing.

1. to have or take an inclined or oblique direction or angle considered with reference to a vertical or horizontal plane; slant.
2. to move at an inclination or obliquely:

   They sloped gradually westward.

verb (used with object)

, sloped, slop·ing.

1. to direct at a slant or inclination; incline from the horizontal or vertical:

   The sun sloped its beams.

2. to form with a slope or slant:

   to slope an embankment.

noun

1. ground that has a natural incline, as the side of a hill.
2. inclination or slant, especially downward or upward.
3. deviation from the horizontal or vertical.
4. an inclined surface.
5. Usually slopes. hills, especially foothills or bluffs:

   the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro.

6. Mathematics.
   1. the tangent of the angle between a given straight line and the x- axis of a system of Cartesian coordinates.
   2. the derivative of the function whose graph is a given curve evaluated at a designated point.
7. Slang: Extremely Disparaging and Offensive. a contemptuous term used to refer to a person of East Asian origin, especially a Vietnamese or other South Asian.

slope

/ sləʊp /

verb

1. to lie or cause to lie at a slanting or oblique angle
2. intr (esp of natural features) to follow an inclined course

   many paths sloped down the hillside

3. intr; foll by off, away, etc to go furtively
4. tr military (formerly) to hold (a rifle) in the slope position (esp in the command slope arms )

noun

1. an inclined portion of ground
2. plural hills or foothills
3. any inclined surface or line
4. the degree or amount of such inclination
5. maths
   1. (of a line) the tangent of the angle between the line and another line parallel to the x- axis
   2. the first derivative of the equation of a curve at a given point
6. (formerly) the position adopted for British military drill when the rifle is rested on the shoulder
7. slang.
   a person from Southeast Asia, especially a Vietnamese

Sensitive Note

See slant-eyed.

Derived Forms

• ˈsloper, noun
• ˈslopingness, noun
• ˈsloping, adjective
• ˈslopingly, adverb

Other Words From

• sloping·ly adverb
• sloping·ness noun
• un·sloped adjective
• un·sloping adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of slope¹

First recorded in 1495–1505; aphetic variant of aslope; akin to slip ¹

Word History and Origins

Origin of slope¹

C15: short for aslope, perhaps from the past participle of Old English āslūpan to slip away, from slūpan to slip

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. slope off, Chiefly British Slang. to make one's way out slowly or furtively.

Synonym Study

Slope, slant mean to incline away from a relatively straight surface or line used as a reference. To slope is to incline vertically in an oblique direction: The ground slopes ( upward or downward ) sharply here. To slant is to fall to one side, to lie obliquely to some line whether horizontal or perpendicular: The road slants off to the right.

Example Sentences

Critics of her measure have raised fears of coercion and a slippery slope to wider legislation taking in more people.

From BBC

Stage 2 involves creating a tunnel over Agoura Road to the south to create a gradual slope that will allow animals to wander off the crossing into the Santa Monica Mountains.

From Los Angeles Times

The birdie putt was straight up the slope to the target.

From BBC

The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby told the BBC that legalising assisted dying was "dangerous", and could lead to a "slippery slope" where more people would feel compelled to have their life ended medically.

From BBC

He has also spoken of concerns about a "slippery slope" - which Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby has also warned of.

From BBC