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Added 9 October 2026

slide

/ˈslaɪ̯d/ noun

In Latin: lābor Wiktionary

noun Definition from WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about slide at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

A small flat rectangular piece of glass on which specimens can be mounted for microscopic study.
(geology) the descent of a large mass of earth or rocks or snow etc.
(music) rapid sliding up or down the musical scale.
the violinist was indulgent with his swoops and slides

verb

Move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner.
the wheels skidded against the sidewalk
To pass or move unobtrusively or smoothly.
They slid through the wicket in the big gate
Move smoothly along a surface.
He slid the money over to the other gambler

Origin

Inherited from Middle English sliden, from Old English slīdan, from Proto-West Germanic *slīdan, from Proto-Germanic *slīdaną, from Proto-Indo-European *h₃sléydʰeti, from *h₃sleydʰ- (“slippery”) + *-eti. Cognate with Old High German slītan (“to slide”) (whence German schlittern), Middle Low German slīden (“to slide”), Middle Dutch slīden (“to slide”) (whence Dutch slijderen, frequentative of now obsolete slijden), Vedic Sanskrit स्रेधति (srédhati, “to err, blunder”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

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