■ noun
1》 a surface of which one end or side is at a higher level than another.
↘a difference in level or sideways position between two ends or sides.
↘a part of the side of a hill or mountain, especially as a place for skiing.
2》 US informal, offensive a person from East Asia, especially a Vietnamese.
■ verb
1》 be inclined from a horizontal or vertical line; slant up or down.
2》 Brit. informal move in an idle or aimless manner.
↘( ~ off ) leave unobtrusively in order to evade work or duty.
Phrases
at the ~ Military (of a rifle) held with the barrel on the left shoulder and the butt in the left hand.
~ arms Military hold a rifle at the ~.
Origin
C16: from the obs. adverb ~ , a shortening of a~ .