slew
1
[ sloo ]
/ slu /
verb
simple past tense of slay.
Words nearby slew
Definition for slew (2 of 7)
slew
2
or slue
[ sloo ]
/ slu /
noun Informal.
a large number or quantity: a whole slew of people.
Origin of slew
2
1830–40,
Americanism; < Irish
sluagh crowd, throng, army, host
Definition for slew (3 of 7)
Definition for slew (4 of 7)
Definition for slew (5 of 7)
slay
[ sley ]
/ sleɪ /
verb (used with object), slew or slayed (especially for def 4); slain; slay·ing.
verb (used without object), slew or slayed (especially for def 7); slain; slay·ing.
to kill or murder.
Slang.
to strongly impress or overwhelm someone: His whole album slays.
noun
sley.
Origin of slay
before 900; Middle English
sleen, slayn, Old English
slēan; cognate with Dutch
slaan, German
schlagen, Old Norse
slā, Gothic
slahan “to strike, beat”
SYNONYMS FOR slay
OTHER WORDS FROM slay
slay·a·ble, adjective slay·er, noun un·slay·a·ble, adjectiveDefinition for slew (6 of 7)
slue
1
or slew
[ sloo ]
/ slu /
verb (used with object), slued, slu·ing.
to turn (a mast or other spar) around on its own axis, or without removing it from its place.
to swing around.
verb (used without object), slued, slu·ing.
to turn about; swing around.
noun
the act of sluing.
a position slued to.
Origin of slue
1
First recorded in 1760–70; origin uncertain
Definition for slew (7 of 7)
sley
or slay, sleigh
[ sley ]
/ sleɪ /
noun, plural sleys.
the reed of a loom.
the warp count in woven fabrics.
British.
the lay of a loom.
verb (used with object)
to draw (warp ends) through the heddle eyes of the harness or through the dents of the reed in accordance with a given plan for weaving a fabric.
Origin of sley
before 1050; Middle English
sleye, Old English
slege weaver's reed; akin to Dutch
slag, German
Schlag, Old Norse
slag, Gothic
slahs a blow; see
slay
Example sentences from the Web for slew
British Dictionary definitions for slew (1 of 8)
British Dictionary definitions for slew (2 of 8)
slew
2
esp US slue
/ (sluː) /
verb
to twist or be twisted sideways, esp awkwardly
he slewed around in his chair
nautical
to cause (a mast) to rotate in its step or (of a mast) to rotate in its step
noun
the act of slewing
Word Origin for slew
C18: of unknown origin
British Dictionary definitions for slew (3 of 8)
British Dictionary definitions for slew (4 of 8)
slew
4
slue
/ (sluː) /
noun
informal, mainly US and Canadian
a great number or amount; a lot
Word Origin for slew
C20: from Irish Gaelic
sluagh; related to Old Irish
slōg army
British Dictionary definitions for slew (5 of 8)
British Dictionary definitions for slew (6 of 8)
British Dictionary definitions for slew (7 of 8)
British Dictionary definitions for slew (8 of 8)
slay
/ (sleɪ) /
verb slays, slaying, slew or slain (tr)
archaic, or literary
to kill, esp violently
slang
to impress (someone) sexually
obsolete
to strike
Derived forms of slay
slayer, nounWord Origin for slay
Old English
slēan; related to Old Norse
slā, Gothic, Old High German
slahan to strike, Old Irish
slacaim I beat