noun
slew
sloo
noun
1
(informal) A large number or amount of something.
"They received a whole slew of complaints after the announcement."
verb
1
To turn or swing something sharply around, often on an axis.
"The car slewed sideways on the icy road."
How to Use Slew
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither "a large amount of something" or "to swing/turn sharply."
Common mistake
Don't confuse this "slew" (large number, or to turn) with the past tense of "slay" ("he slew the dragon") — they're spelled identically but completely unrelated.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a slew of
slew around
Word Forms
slewed past tense, slews plural, slews plural, slews singular
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Etymology
Mostly a British spelling variant of "slue," describing a turning or twisting motion; unrelated to "slay," despite being its past tense form in a different verb.