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”

Explanation

A slur is an insulting remark. In a political campaign, it’s not unheard of for a candidate to launch a slur at her opponent, though doing so is usually frowned upon. Slur can also be used as a verb meaning “to insult,” and it has a number of additional meanings as well. To slur one’s speech is to pronounce words in a clumsy, lazy way. In the context of music, to slur is to slide smoothly from one note to another. The word history of slur is hazy, but some scholars have suggested a relationship with a Dutch word meaning "to drag."

Example Sentences

Slur the words just right, and it becomes hard to tell the difference between terrorism and tourism.

From New York Times • Aug. 18, 2017

Slur or not, Admiral Pugh's attack emphasized the bald fact that the armed forces are still having trouble getting enough doctors.

From Time Magazine Archive

The Use of the Slur is pretty much limited in Singing, and is confined within such few Notes ascending or descending, that it cannot go beyond a fourth without displeasing.

From Observations on the Florid Song or Sentiments on the Ancient and Modern Singers by Galliard, John Ernest

Slur your consonants and squeeze your vowels in the three words of this line, "Violets were born," and what becomes of this miracle of spring?

From Vocal Expression A Class-book of Voice Training and Interpretation by Everts, Katherine Jewell

How a Tie and a Slur Differ What difference is there between a slur and a tie?

From Piano Playing: With Piano Questions Answered by Hofmann, Josef

Related Words

• accusation
• innuendo
• put down
• smear