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noun Uncommon

slug

sluhg
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Slug (noun) means a soft-bodied, shell-less land mollusk related to the snail. Example: “Slugs left silvery trails across the vegetable patch overnight.”

noun
1
A soft-bodied, shell-less land mollusk related to the snail.
"Slugs left silvery trails across the vegetable patch overnight."
2
A lazy, slow-moving person.
"Get off the sofa, you slug — we have chores to do."
3
A bullet, or a solid metal projectile fired from a gun.
"The detective found a spent slug lodged in the wall."
4
The short identifying phrase used at the end of a web address, or the working title editors give to a news story.
"The blog post's slug was automatically generated from its title."
verb
1
To hit someone hard, usually with a fist.
"He slugged his opponent square on the jaw."

How to use slug

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDepending on context: a slimy garden pest, a lazy person, a bullet, or (online) the short text at the end of a URL.

Common mistake

In web/tech contexts, "slug" specifically means the URL-friendly identifier (like "my-article-title"), not the whole address.

Common pairings
garden slug lazy slug a shotgun slug the article slug
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Word forms

Plural
slugs
Third person singular
slugs
Past tense
slugged
Test yourself on “slug” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

_____ left silvery trails across the vegetable patch overnight.

Etymology

Originally described a slow, lazy person, likely from a Middle English word for sloth or a lazy oaf; the snail-like mollusk and the bullet sense both grew out of related ideas of a slow-moving or solid lump.

Origin: Middle English

Synonyms

View more →
lick bullet clout punch sluggard biff poke idle swig laze slog stagnate

Related words

work power run light influence pull smoke busy

Rhymes for slug

lug plug glug
See all rhymes for slug →

Frequently asked questions

What does “slug” mean?
The word “slug” means a soft-bodied, shell-less land mollusk related to the snail. In plain terms, depending on context: a slimy garden pest, a lazy person, a bullet, or (online) the short text at the end of a URL.
How do you pronounce “slug”?
“Slug” is pronounced sluhg (/slʌɡ/ in IPA).
How do you use “slug” in a sentence?
Here is “slug” used in a sentence: “Slugs left silvery trails across the vegetable patch overnight.”
What is another word for “slug”?
Words with a similar meaning to “slug” include nip & Thesaurus:drink.
What part of speech is “slug”?
Depending on how it is used, “slug” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “slug” come from?
The word “slug” comes from Middle English. Originally described a slow, lazy person, likely from a Middle English word for sloth or a lazy oaf; the snail-like mollusk and the bullet sense both grew out of related ideas of a slow-moving or solid lump.
Is “slug” a common word?
“Slug” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “slug” have?
“Slug” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a soft-bodied, shell-less land mollusk related to the snail.

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