English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology

noun

sloe

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Sloe (noun) means the small, sharp-tasting wild fruit of the blackthorn. Example: “They picked sloes from the hedgerow to steep in gin.”

noun

1

The small, sharp-tasting wild fruit of the blackthorn.

"They picked sloes from the hedgerow to steep in gin."

"A sloe is too bitter to eat straight off the branch."

"The birds stripped the last sloes from the bush by winter."

2

The blackthorn tree itself, which produces sloes.

"A sloe grew wild along the edge of the field."

"The hedge was thick with sloes in blossom that spring."

How to use sloe

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sloe is the small, tart, dark fruit that grows on a blackthorn bush.

When to use it

Sloe is a plain, everyday word mostly used in the context of foraging or making drinks.

Memory tip

Watch the spelling, sloe and slow sound identical but have nothing to do with each other.

Trace the full origin ↓

Easily confused with

slow →

Common pairings

pick sloes sloe gin ripe sloes a handful of sloes

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “sloe” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

They picked _____ from the hedgerow to steep in gin.

Etymology

Sloe descends from Middle English forms such as slo and sla, which trace back to Old English slā. Further back the word is Germanic, and its ultimate root is thought to relate to the idea of a bluish colour, fitting the fruit's dark, dusty skin.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

blackthorn

Related words

blackthorn

Rhymes for sloe

OE toe foe doe roe Joe hoe woe Zoe moe soe Coe

See all rhymes for sloe →

Frequently asked questions

What is a sloe used for?

Sloes are mainly used to flavour drinks, most famously sloe gin, since the raw fruit is too astringent to eat on its own.

Is a sloe the same as a blackthorn?

The blackthorn is the tree or shrub, while a sloe is the fruit it produces, though sloe can also refer to the tree itself.

Why does sloe sound like slow?

Sloe and slow are homophones in English, they are pronounced the same but spelled differently and mean completely different things.

What is the meaning of sloe?

"sloe" (noun) means the small, sharp-tasting wild fruit of the blackthorn.

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