slope

[slohp] /sloʊp/
verb (used without object), sloped, sloping.
1.
to have or take an inclined or oblique direction or angle considered with reference to a vertical or horizontal plane; slant.
2.
to move at an inclination or obliquely:
They sloped gradually westward.
verb (used with object), sloped, sloping.
3.
to direct at a slant or inclination; incline from the horizontal or vertical:
The sun sloped its beams.
4.
to form with a slope or slant:
to slope an embankment.
noun
5.
ground that has a natural incline, as the side of a hill.
6.
inclination or slant, especially downward or upward.
7.
deviation from the horizontal or vertical.
8.
an inclined surface.
9.
Usually, slopes. hills, especially foothills or bluffs:
the slopes of Mt. Kilimanjaro.
10.
Mathematics.
  1. the tangent of the angle between a given straight line and the x- axis of a system of Cartesian coordinates.
  2. the derivative of the function whose graph is a given curve evaluated at a designated point.
11.
Slang: Disparaging and Offensive. an Asian, especially a Vietnamese.
Idioms
12.
slope off, Chiefly British Slang. to make one's way out slowly or furtively.
Origin
1495-1505; aphetic variant of aslope; akin to slip1
Related forms
slopingly, adverb
slopingness, noun
unsloped, adjective
unsloping, adjective
Synonyms
1. Slope, slant mean to incline away from a relatively straight surface or line used as a reference. To slope is to incline vertically in an oblique direction: The ground slopes (upward or downward ) sharply here. To slant is to fall to one side, to lie obliquely to some line whether horizontal or perpendicular: The road slants off to the right.
Examples from the web for slope
  • The shelf ends at a break, where the increased steepness is defined as the continental slope.
  • The magnitude of the gradient vector field-which represents the steepness of a slope-is not the same at all points of the contour.
  • Finally she planted agaves, aloes, and other species to cover the slope without blocking ocean views.
  • slope also affects airflow: warm air rises, cold air sinks.
  • Supply curves in economics still slope upward regardless of who is doing the instructing.
  • Do not forget that the slope of a curve has a magnitude as well as a sign.
  • It is a slippery slope that not only has legal implications but moral ones as well.
  • For engineering reasons turbines must be mounted on vertical poles, regardless of the slope of the landscape.
  • The slope of this recession is much steeper than the slope of the basic relationship.
  • However, my wine merchant claims that the slope of the function is unique to the consumer's palate.
British Dictionary definitions for slope

slope

/sləʊp/
verb
1.
to lie or cause to lie at a slanting or oblique angle
2.
(intransitive) (esp of natural features) to follow an inclined course: many paths sloped down the hillside
3.
(intransitive; foll by off, away, etc) to go furtively
4.
(transitive) (military) (formerly) to hold (a rifle) in the slope position (esp in the command slope arms)
noun
5.
an inclined portion of ground
6.
(pl) hills or foothills
7.
any inclined surface or line
8.
the degree or amount of such inclination
9.
(maths)
  1. (of a line) the tangent of the angle between the line and another line parallel to the x-axis
  2. the first derivative of the equation of a curve at a given point
10.
(formerly) the position adopted for British military drill when the rifle is rested on the shoulder
11.
(US, slang, derogatory) a person from Southeast Asia, especially a Vietnamese
Derived Forms
sloper, noun
sloping, adjective
slopingly, adverb
slopingness, noun
Word Origin
C15: short for aslope, perhaps from the past participle of Old English āslūpan to slip away, from slūpan to slip
Word Origin and History for slope
v.

1590s, "go in an oblique direction," from earlier adjective meaning "slanting" (c.1500), probably from Middle English aslope (adv.) "on the incline" (late 15c.), from Old English *aslopen, past participle of aslupan "to slip away," from a- "away" + slupan "to slip" (see sleeve). From 1709 as "to be in a slanting position;" transitive sense "place in a slanting position" is from c.1600. Related: Sloped; sloping.

n.

1610s, "inclination," from slope (v.). Meaning "an incline, a slant (of ground)" is from 1620s. Derogatory slang meaning "Oriental person" is attested from 1948.

Slang definitions & phrases for slope

slope 1

verb
  1. (also slope out) To run away; depart; lam, skedaddle (1830+)
  2. To escape from jail (1940s+ Underworld & hoboes)

[perhaps fr Dutch sloop, ''sneaked away'']


slope 2

noun

An Asian; dink, gook

[Vietnam War armed forces; fr the apparent slanting of eyes caused by the typical epicanthic fold of Asian peoples]