I. ˈslant, -aa(ə)-, -ai-, -ȧ- adverb
Etymology: Middle English slonte, short for aslonte aslant — more at aslant
: aslant , obliquely
II. verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: alteration of slent, from Middle English slenten, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish slinta to slide, Old Norse sletta; akin to Middle High German slīten to slide — more at slide
intransitive verb
1. : to hit or strike obliquely : glance — used with against, on, or upon
2. : to turn or incline from a right line or a level : lie or fall obliquely to a horizontal or perpendicular line : slope
the roof slants
where the field slants to the river
3. : to take a diagonal course, direction, or path
we slanted across the river
4. : to have an inclination : trend — used with toward
transitive verb
1. : to cut or strike (something) obliquely : cut across at a sharp angle
shafts of sunlight slanting the earth — Carl Sandburg
2. : to turn from a direct line : give an oblique or sloping direction to
slant a line
3. : to bend or incline (one) by training, urging, or similar effort
4. : to direct (written or spoken matter) to the interests of a particular audience or according to a particular interpretation : angle
a magazine slanted for farm readers
specifically : to warp from objective presentation so as to favor a particular bias
slant the news
III. adjective
1.
a. : inclined from a direct line whether horizontal or perpendicular : sloping
a slant line
b. : moving in an oblique path
a slant ray of light
2. : biased — used of a person or his faculties
IV. noun
( -s )
Etymology: probably alteration (influenced by slant ) (II) of slent, from Middle English, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Swedish slänt slope, slant, slinta to slide
1. : a slanting direction, line, or plane : slope , inclination
the east slope has a sharp slant
sits at a slant
lay a cloth on the slant
2. : something (as a slope or a shaft of light) that slants
a slant of sunlight fell between the branches
puffing up the steep slant and onto the highway
as
a. : a short inclined passageway in a coal mine the course of which is diagonal to the main workings
b. : a slab with slanting depressions for artists' colors
c. : a sewer pipe that has one end beveled and is used for making a connection to a sewer
d.
(1) : a culture medium solidified obliquely in a tube so as to increase the surface area
a blood-agar slant
— compare stab 5a
(2) : slant culture
e. or slant line : diagonal 4
f. : a football running play in which the ball carrier moves obliquely toward the line of scrimmage
3. chiefly dialect : an oblique or sarcastic remark : taunt
4.
a. : a view from a particular angle : a peculiar or personal point of view, attitude, or opinion
considered from a new slant
you have a wrong slant on the problem
b. : a slanting view : glance
take a slant at him
V. noun
( -s )
Etymology: alteration of earlier slent slant, spell (of weather), from Middle English, sprinkling, splash
: a light or brief breeze especially over water : gust