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

The Conservatives have tabled a slew of parliamentary questions to try to tease out further details about what was known by who and when.

From BBC

Lachlan is currently the chair of News Corp, which counts The Wall Street Journal and The Times among its slew of publications.

From BBC

And in 2024, she was investigated by the police over the tax paid on the sale of her council house, again following a slew of reports by unfriendly newspapers, cheered on by the Conservatives.

From BBC

Private investors are throwing millions of dollars at the problem, and consequently, a slew of entrepreneurs and former firefighters are trying their hand at developing high-tech solutions.

From Los Angeles Times

After a landmark 50th season — complete with multiple celebratory events and a slew of Emmy nominations — “Saturday Night Live” is ready for some changes.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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