slope

noun slopes

1. countable, uncountable A surface that either inclines or declines in a regular manner from the perspective of an observer. the slope
2. countable, uncountable An area of ground that tends evenly upward or downward. I had to climb a small slope to get to the site.
3. countable, uncountable The degree to which a surface tends upward or downward. The road has a very sharp downward slope at that point.
4. countable, uncountable The ratio of the vertical and horizontal distances between two points lying on the line. The slope of this line is 0.5
5. countable, proscribed, sometimes, uncountable The slope of the line tangent to the curve at the given point. The slope of a parabola increases linearly with x.
6. countable, uncountable The angle a roof surface makes with the horizontal, expressed as a ratio of the units of vertical rise to the units of horizontal length (sometimes referred to as run). The slope of an asphalt shingle roof system should be 4:12 or greater.
7. countable, uncountable a concept or idea which suggests a type of oblique or accelerating progression The habit of lying can quickly become a slippery slope.
8. countable, ethnic, offensive, slur, uncountable, vulgar An East or Southeast Asian person, especially one that is Chinese.
9. UK, countable, dated, slang, uncountable A hasty departure. "I did a slope," acknowledged the clerk frankly. "I broke all the records down that passage, I bet you. You'll laugh, I dare say, and think you would have stood, but you don't know what it was like. […]"

Similar: first derivative, gradient, Chinaman, Chink, elevation, grade, slope

verb slopes · sloping · sloped

1. intransitive To tend steadily upward or downward. The road slopes sharply down at that point.
2. transitive To form with a slope; to give an oblique or slanting direction to; to incline or slant. to slope the ground in a garden; to slope a piece of cloth in cutting a garment
3. UK, colloquial, usually To try to move surreptitiously. I sloped in through the back door, hoping my boss wouldn't see me.
4. To hold a rifle at a slope with forearm perpendicular to the body in front holding the butt, the rifle resting on the shoulder. The order was given to "slope arms".

adjective more slope · most slope

1. obsolete Sloping. A bank not steep, but gently slope.

adverb more slope · most slope

1. obsolete slopingly So promis'd he; and Uriel to his charge Return'd on that bright beam , whose point now rais'd , Bore him slope downward to the sun