slice

American  

[slahys] / slaɪs /

noun

1. a thin, flat piece cut from something.

   a slice of bread.

2. a part, portion, or share.

   a slice of land.

3. any of various implements with a thin, broad blade or part, as for turning food in a frying pan, serving fish at the table, or taking up printing ink; spatula.

4. Sports.

   1. the path described by a ball, as in baseball or golf, that curves in a direction corresponding to the side from which it was struck.

   2. a ball describing such a path.

5. Tennis. a stroke executed by hitting down on the ball with an underhand motion and thus creating backspin.

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verb (used with object)

slices, present (3rd person singular) sliced, past participle, past slicing present participle

1. to cut into slices; divide into parts.

2. to cut through or cleave with or as if with a knife.

   The ship sliced the sea.

3. to cut off or remove as a slice or slices (sometimes followed by off, away, from, etc.).

4. to remove by means of a slice, slice bar, or similar implement.

5. Sports. to hit (a ball) so as to result in a slice.

verb (used without object)

slices, present (3rd person singular) sliced, past participle, past slicing present participle

1. to slice something.

2. to admit of being sliced.

3. Sports.

   1. (of a player) to slice the ball.

   2. (of a ball) to describe a slice in flight.

slice British  

/ slaɪs /

noun

1. a thin flat piece cut from something having bulk

   a slice of pork

2. a share or portion

   a slice of the company's revenue

3. any of various utensils having a broad flat blade and resembling a spatula

4. 1. the flight of a ball that travels obliquely because it has been struck off centre

   2. the action of hitting such a shot

   3. the shot so hit

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verb

1. to divide or cut (something) into parts or slices

2. to cut in a clean and effortless manner

3. to move or go (through something) like a knife

   the ship sliced through the water

4. to cut or be cut (from) a larger piece

5. (tr) to remove by use of a slicing implement

6. to hit (a ball) with a slice

7. (tr) rowing to put the blade of the oar into (the water) slantwise

slice Idioms  

1. In addition to the subsequent idiom beginning with slice, also see greatest thing since sliced bread; no matter how you slice it.

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• slicer
  noun
• unsliced
  adjective
• preslice
  verb (used with object)
• slicingly
  adverb
• sliceable
  adjective

Conjugated Forms

Present

• has sliced
  perfect 3rd person singular
• have sliced
  perfect
• has been slicing
  perfect progressive 3rd person singular
• have been slicing
  perfect progressive
• are slicing
  progressive
• is slicing
  progressive 3rd person singular
• am slicing
  progressive 1st person singular
• slicing
  participle
• slices
  singular 3rd person

Past

• had sliced
  perfect
• were slicing
  progressive plural
• was slicing
  progressive singular
• had been slicing
  perfect progressive
• sliced
  participle
• sliced
  simple

Future

• will slice
  simple
• will have sliced
  perfect
• will be slicing
  progressive
• will have been slicing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of slice

1300–50; (noun) Middle English s ( c ) lice < Old French esclice, noun derivative of esclicer to split up < Frankish *slitjan, akin to Old English slītan, Old Norse slīta, Dutch slījten ( see slit); (v.) late Middle English sklicen < Old French esclicer

Explanation

A slice is a narrow piece or portion of something (particularly food), like a slice of bread or a slice of pizza. You can order a slice of cake or pie at your favorite bakery, or fry potatoes after cutting them into thin slices. Slice can also be used figuratively: "His brothers each own a slice of the business." The expression "slice of life" usually describes a realistic version of life that's depicted in a book, movie, or play. And in golfing, a slice is a stroke that makes the ball curve sharply to one side.

Example Sentences

Around one-third of the shares will be set aside for everyday investors -- of which many are die-hard believers in Musk -- a far larger slice than a typical IPO offers.

From Barron's • Jun. 10, 2026

The imaginary “occurring elephant” is just one spacelike slice of that tube; one three-dimensional moment.

From Science Daily • Jun. 8, 2026

But because it is selling only a small slice of its shares, most indexes will give it smaller consideration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 8, 2026

In Nottinghamshire, council officials have even suggested they should receive a slice of any money being made.

From BBC • Jun. 6, 2026

Now Zippernose was nibbling like a rat on a slice of bread.

From "Fourth Grade Rats" by Jerry Spinelli

Related Words

• carve
• cleave
• divide
• hack
• sever
• shave
• shred
• slash
• slit
• split
• strip