slide
SLYD
Slide (verb) means to move smoothly along a surface while staying in contact with it. Example: “The skater began to slide across the frozen pond with her arms spread wide.”
verb
1
To move smoothly along a surface while staying in contact with it.
"The skater began to slide across the frozen pond with her arms spread wide."
"The drawer slides open easily on its rails."
"Kids lined up to slide down the hill on their sledges."
2
To decrease gradually in amount, value, or quality.
"Standards at the old cafe began to slide once the original owner retired."
"If you stop practising, your fitness will slowly slide away."
"The company's share price slid steadily throughout the year."
noun
1
A playground structure that children climb up and slide down.
"Our toddler is finally brave enough to climb the ladder and go down the slide."
"There was a long queue for the big red slide at the playground."
"The kids ran straight for the slide as soon as they reached the park."
2
A single page of a computer presentation.
"The last slide of the talk listed the team's contact details."
"Try not to put too much text on each slide."
"She added a chart to the third slide of her presentation."
3
A thin piece of glass used to hold a sample for viewing under a microscope.
"The students carefully labelled each slide before handing the samples in."
"Be careful, because a glass slide breaks easily if you drop it."
"He placed a drop of pond water on a slide and examined it under the microscope."
How to use slide
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo move smoothly across a surface — or, as a noun, a playground ride, a presentation page, or a microscope specimen holder.
Common pairings
slide down
slide show
playground slide
stock prices slide
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Word forms
- Plural
- slides
- Third person singular
- slides
- Past tense
- slid, slidden
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The skater began to _____ across the frozen pond with her arms spread wide.
Etymology
From Old English slīdan, "to slide, glide" — an ancient Germanic verb related to a root meaning "slippery."
Related words
Rhymes for slide
See all rhymes for slide →Frequently asked questions
What does “slide” mean?
The word “slide” means to move smoothly along a surface while staying in contact with it. In plain terms, to move smoothly across a surface — or, as a noun, a playground ride, a presentation page, or a microscope specimen holder.
How do you pronounce “slide”?
“Slide” is pronounced SLYD (/ˈslaɪ̯d/ in IPA).
How do you use “slide” in a sentence?
Here is “slide” used in a sentence: “The drawer slides open easily on its rails.”
What is another word for “slide”?
Words with a similar meaning to “slide” include slider.
What part of speech is “slide”?
Depending on how it is used, “slide” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “slide” come from?
The word “slide” comes from Old English. From Old English slīdan, "to slide, glide" — an ancient Germanic verb related to a root meaning "slippery.".
Is “slide” a common word?
“Slide” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “slide” have?
“Slide” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to move smoothly along a surface while staying in contact with it.
What is the difference between 'slide' and 'slip'?
'Slide' means to move smoothly along a surface while staying in contact with it, often deliberately and in a controlled way. 'Slip' usually implies an accidental, sudden loss of footing or grip, so you slide down a banister on purpose but slip on ice by accident.
When does 'slide' mean to decrease?
Beyond physical motion, 'slide' can mean to decrease gradually in amount, value, or quality, as in 'sales slid last quarter' or 'his grades began to slide'. This figurative sense carries a sense of a slow, often unwelcome decline.
What is the past tense of 'slide'?
'Slide' is irregular: its past tense and past participle are both 'slid', as in 'she slid the door open' and 'prices had slid'. The form 'slided' is not standard English.
What words commonly follow 'slide'?
Common combinations include 'slide down', 'slide into', 'slide along', and 'slide off'. In its figurative sense you often see 'slide into debt', 'slide back', or a currency that 'slides against' another.
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