slew
1[ sloo ]
/ slu /
verb
simple past tense of slay.
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Question 1 of 7
salute
Words nearby slew
Definition for slew (2 of 7)
slew2
or slue
[ sloo ]
/ slu /
noun Informal.
a large number or quantity: a whole slew of people.
Origin of slew
21830–40, 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, adjectiveslay·er, nounun·slay·a·ble, adjectiveDefinition for slew (6 of 7)
slue1
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
1First 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
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020
Example sentences from the Web for slew
British Dictionary definitions for slew (1 of 8)
British Dictionary definitions for slew (2 of 8)
slew2
esp US slue
/ (sluː) /
verb
to twist or be twisted sideways, esp awkwardlyhe 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)
slew4
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
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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