slide: Meaning and Definition of

slide

Pronunciation: (slīd), [key]
— v., n. slid slidorslid•den slid•ing,
—v.i.
  1. to move along in continuous contact with a smooth or slippery surface: to slide down a snow-covered hill.
  2. to slip or skid.
  3. to glide or pass smoothly.
  4. to slip easily, quietly, or unobtrusively on or as if on a track, channel, or guide rail (usually fol. by in, out, away, etc.).
  5. to pass or fall gradually into a specified state, character, practice, etc.
  6. to decline or decrease: Interest rates are beginning to slide.
  7. (of a base runner) to cast oneself, usually feet first, forward along the ground in the direction of the base being approached, to present less of a target for a baseman attempting to make a tag.
—v.t.
  1. to cause to slide, slip, or coast, as over a surface or with a smooth, gliding motion.
  2. to hand, pass along, or slip (something) easily or quietly (usually fol. by in, into, etc.): to slide a note into someone's hand.
  3. let slide, to allow to deteriorate, pursue a natural course, etc., without intervention on one's part: to let things slide.
—n.
  1. an act or instance of sliding.
  2. a smooth surface for sliding on, esp. a type of chute in a playground.
  3. an object intended to slide.
    1. a landslide or the like.
    2. the mass of matter sliding down.
  4. a single transparency, object, or image for projection in a projector, as a lantern slide.
  5. a small positive color transparency mounted for projection on a screen or magnification through a viewer.
  6. a usually rectangular plate of glass on which objects are placed for microscopic examination.
  7. a shelf sliding into the body of a piece when not in use.
    1. an embellishment consisting of an upward or downward series of three or more tones, the last of which is the principal tone.
    2. a portamento.
    3. aU-shaped section of the tube of an instrument of the trumpet class, as the trombone, that can be pushed in or out to alter the length of the air column and change the pitch.
  8. a vehicle mounted on runners, for conveying loads, as of grain or wood, esp. over a level surface.
  9. (of a machine or mechanism)
    1. a moving part working on a track, channel, or guide rails.
    2. the surface, track, channel, or guide rails on which the part moves.
  10. any of various chutes used in logging, mining, or materials handling.
  11. a flat or very low-heeled, backless shoe or slipper that can be slipped on and off the foot easily.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.
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