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ALL IN FAVO(U)R OF THIS BRITISH VS. AMERICAN ENGLISH QUIZ
There's an ocean of difference between the way people speak English in the US vs. the UK. Are your language skills up to the task of telling the difference? Let's find out!
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True or false? British English and American English are only different when it comes to slang words.

Origin of slant

First recorded in 1485–95; aphetic variant of aslant

synonym study for slant

1. See slope.

usage note for slant

OTHER WORDS FROM slant

slant·ing·ly, slantly, adverbun·slant·ed, adjectiveun·slant·ing, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

MORE ABOUT SLANT

What does slant mean?

To slant is to slope or lean away from a specific line.

To slant is also to cause to slope, as in If you slant your house’s roof, rain and snow will slide off.

A slant is a line or plane that is not horizontally or vertically straight. Often it is on a diagonal as with /.

Figuratively, to slant is to have or be biased, as in My mother was always slanted toward my father’s opinion.

To slant is also to distort information to reflect a specific viewpoint and misstate facts. It is often used in reference to journalism, which is expected to be unbiased and objective. Slanted media, for example, would back a particular political movement by covering its victories and downplaying its failures.

To slant can also be used to mean to write, edit or publish something for a specific audience. This may be seen as a positive or negative, depending on how something is slanted and the purpose of the material. For example, to slant a news story to young readers would be to simplify the story without distorting it so younger readers could understand it. To slant a novel to a specific audience is to write it to their interests. However, to slant a news story with the intent to distort information would be considered a negative.

Example: Cape Cod houses are known for their slanted roofs and shingle siding.

Where does slant come from?

The first records of the term slant come from around 1480. It ultimately comes from the Middle English a-slonte or one -slonte. It is an aphetic version of the term aslant, which means the word has lost its initial unstressed vowel sound.

In American football and basketball, a slant is a play in which the ball, either through a pass or in a player’s hands, crosses the field or court diagonally, often passing the opposing team by. In football, a slant route describes a movement in which a receiver runs forward at the snap and then darts diagonally to catch the ball and avoid defenders.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to slant?

  • slanting (adjective)
  • slantingly (adverb)
  • slantly (adverb)
  • slanted (adjective)

What are some synonyms for slant?

What are some words that share a root or word element with slant?

What are some words that often get used in discussing slant?

How is slant used in real life?

Slant is commonly used in both literal and figurative senses.

 

Try using slant!

Which of the following is NOT a synonym for slant?

A. slope
B. tilt
C. skew
D. straighten

How to use slant in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slant

slant
/ (slɑːnt) /

verb
noun
adjective
oblique, sloping

Derived forms of slant

slanting, adjectiveslantingly or slantly, adverb

Word Origin for slant

C17: short for aslant, probably of Scandinavian origin
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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