slur

American  

[slur] / slɜr /

verb (used with object)

slurred, slurring

1. to pass over lightly or without due mention or consideration (often followed byover ).

   The report slurred over her contribution to the enterprise.

   Synonyms:

   gloss, disregard, slight

2. to pronounce (a syllable, word, etc.) indistinctly by combining, reducing, or omitting sounds, as in hurried or careless utterance.

3. to cast aspersions on; calumniate; disparage; depreciate.

   The candidate was viciously slurred by his opponent.

   Synonyms:

   asperse, slander

4. Music.

   1. to sing to a single syllable or play without a break (two or more tones of different pitch).

   2. to mark with a slur.

5. Chiefly British Dialect. to smirch, sully, or stain.

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verb (used without object)

slurred, slurring

1. to read, speak, or sing hurriedly and carelessly.

noun

1. a slurred utterance or sound.

2. a disparaging remark or a slight: an ethnic slur against people of Irish descent.

   quick to take offense at a slur;

   an ethnic slur against people of Irish descent.

   Synonyms:

   affront, insult, innuendo

   Antonyms:

   compliment

3. a blot or stain, as upon reputation.

   a slur on his good name.

   Synonyms:

   disgrace, stigma

4. Music.

   1. the combination of two or more tones of different pitch, sung to a single syllable or played without a break.

   2. a curved mark indicating this.

5. Printing. a spot that is blurred or unclear as a result of paper, plate, or blanket slippage.

slur British  

/ slɜː /

verb

1. (often foll by over) to treat superficially, hastily, or without due deliberation; gloss

2. (also intr) to pronounce or utter (words, etc) indistinctly

3. to speak disparagingly of or cast aspersions on

4. music to execute (a melodic interval of two or more notes) smoothly, as in legato performance

5. (also intr) to blur or smear

6. archaic to stain or smear; sully

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noun

1. an indistinct sound or utterance

2. a slighting remark; aspersion

3. a stain or disgrace, as upon one's reputation; stigma

4. music

   1. a performance or execution of a melodic interval of two or more notes in a part

   2. the curved line ( or ) indicating this

5. a blur or smear

Other Word Forms

• unslurred adjective

Etymology

Origin of slur

First recorded in 1595–1605; of multiple origins; in the sense “pass over without due consideration,” compare Low German slurren “to shuffle,” Dutch sleuren “to trail, drag”; in the sense “blot or stain,” compare Middle Dutch slore ( Dutch sloor ) “sluttish woman”

Example Sentences

The recording does not capture audio of the alleged slurs.

From Los Angeles Times

"I categorically deny using a misogynistic slur 14 years ago and I'm horrified at its invention more than a decade later. It is absolutely not a word I would have used."

From BBC

"In that instance, the edit team did hear the racial slur on the feed and removed it immediately from the version of the ceremony that would be broadcast later that evening," Davie said.

From BBC

Tourette’s is misunderstood, and coprolalia, a symptom of the condition that leads to involuntary swearing, slurs, or other socially unacceptable words or phrases, is even more so.

From Salon

Jones, who also directed Nanny McPhee and My Big Fat Wedding 2, told the newspaper he had assumed the slur would not be broadcast, and went on to celebrate the film's win that evening.

From BBC

Related Words

• accusation
• innuendo
• put down
• smear