/ slɜː(r); NAmE / verb , noun
■ verb ( -rr- )
1.
to pronounce words in a way that is not clear so that they run into each other, usually because you are drunk or tired :
[ vn ]
She had drunk too much and her speech was slurred.
[also v speech ]
2.
[ vn ] ( music ) to play or sing a group of two or more musical notes so that each one runs smoothly into the next
3.
[ vn ] to harm sb's reputation by making unfair or false statements about them
■ noun
1.
slur (on sb/sth) an unfair remark about sb/sth that may damage other people's opinion of them
SYN insult :
She had dared to cast a slur on his character.
( especially NAmE )
The crowd started throwing bottles and shouting racial slurs .
2.
( music ) a curved sign used to show that two or more notes are to be played smoothly and without a break
••
WORD ORIGIN
Middle English : originally as noun in sense thin, fluid mud , later as verb meaning smear , belittle (a person) , gloss over (a fault) .