slew

¹

[sloo]

verb

1. simple past tense of slay.

slew

²

Or slue

[sloo]

noun

Informal.

1. a large number or quantity.

   a whole slew of people.

slew

¹

/ sluː /

verb

1. to twist or be twisted sideways, esp awkwardly

   he slewed around in his chair

2. nautical to cause (a mast) to rotate in its step or (of a mast) to rotate in its step

noun

1. the act of slewing

slew

²

/ sluː /

verb

1. the past tense of slay

slew

³

/ sluː /

noun

1. a variant spelling (esp US) of slough 1

slew

⁴

/ sluː /

noun

1. informal,  a great number or amount; a lot

Word History and Origins

Origin of slew¹

1830–40, < Irish sluagh crowd, throng, army, host

Word History and Origins

Origin of slew¹

C18: of unknown origin

Origin of slew²

C20: from Irish Gaelic sluagh; related to Old Irish slōg army

Example Sentences

What we have now, on the other hand, is a sprawling outcry against a slew of unbelievably rotten policies and a wildly out-of-control president.

From Salon

After that, Nexstar Media Group, which owns a slew of local ABC affiliates, said it would no longer air “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”

From Salon

The film, which also starred Buckley, received a slew of awards, including best feature and breakthrough director at the Gotham Awards.

From Los Angeles Times

Some stores even staged walkouts, citing the dress code change as the last straw in a slew of new policies Starbucks that employees say are stifling and damaging their ability to properly do their jobs.

From Salon

The downpours created a slew of issues for isolated mountain communities, many where the landscape has been scorched by wildfire in recent years.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abundance 
• aggregation 
• batch 
• bunch 
• bundle 
• multiplicity 
• plenty 
• profusion 
• ream 
• scad