/ slaɪd; NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb
( slid , slid / slɪd; NAmE /)
MOVE SMOOTHLY / QUIETLY
1.
[usually + adv. / prep. ] to move easily over a smooth or wet surface; to make sth move in this way :
[ v ]
We slid down the grassy slope.
The drawers slide in and out easily.
[ vn ]
She slid her hand along the rail.
[ v - adj ]
The automatic doors slid open.
[also vn - adj ]
2.
[+ adv. / prep. ] to move quickly and quietly, for example in order not to be noticed; to make sth move in this way
SYN slip :
[ v ]
He slid into bed.
She slid out while no one was looking.
[ vn ]
The man slid the money quickly into his pocket.
BECOME LOWER / WORSE
3.
[ v ] slide (from ... ) (to ... ) to become gradually lower or of less value :
Shares slid to a 10-year low.
4.
[ v ] slide (down / into / towards sth) to move gradually into a worse situation :
The industry has slid into decline.
They were sliding towards bankruptcy.
He got depressed and began to let things slide (= failed to give things the attention they needed) .
■ noun
BECOMING LOWER / WORSE
1.
[ C , usually sing. ] a change to a lower or worse condition :
a downward slide in the price of oil
the team's slide down the table
talks to prevent a slide into civil war
The economy is on the slide (= getting worse) .
ON ICE
2.
[ sing. ] a long, smooth movement on ice or a smooth surface
SYN skid :
Her car went into a slide.
FOR CHILDREN
3.
[ C ] a structure with a steep slope that children use for sliding down :
to go down the slide
FALL OF ROCK
4.
[ C ] a sudden fall of a large amount of rock or earth down a hill
SYN landslide :
I was afraid of starting a slide of loose stones.
PHOTOGRAPH
5.
[ C ] a small piece of film held in a frame that can be shown on a screen when you shine a light through it
SYN transparency :
a talk with colour slides
a slide show / projector
FOR MICROSCOPE
6.
[ C ] a small piece of glass that sth is placed on so that it can be looked at under a microscope
—picture at microscope
PART OF MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
7.
[ C ] a part of a musical instrument or other device that slides backwards and forwards
—picture at trombone
FOR HAIR
8.
[ C ] ( BrE ) = hairslide
••
WORD ORIGIN
Old English slīdan (verb); related to sled and sledge . The noun, first in the sense act of sliding , is recorded from the late 16th cent.