slide
slide — verb
1. to glide steadily along a surface without lifting off it, or to push an object s
to glide steadily along a surface without lifting off it, or to push an object so that it travels this way
Yael slid the wooden drawer open and took out a faded photograph of her grandfather.
slide + object + adjective (open)
The glass doors of the library slide open when a person walks near the entrance.
A heavy wooden box slid across the metal floor of the moving truck when the driver turned a sharp corner.
slide + prepositional phrase for direction
Hui carefully slid the cake out of the metal baking tin.
slide + object + adverb for delicate movement
The children slid down the muddy slope and landed in a pile of leaves.
- slide open
- slide shut
- slide across
- slide down
- slide out of
- slide into
Grammar Patterns
slide + object + adjective (open/shut)
slide + adverb / prepositional phrase
Usage Note
Past tense is slid (not slided). Can be used transitively with the thing being moved as the object, or intransitively with the thing that moves as the subject.
Common Mistakes
2. in baseball, to throw your body forward along the ground with your feet or head
in baseball, to throw your body forward along the ground with your feet or head first in order to reach a base before the ball reaches it.
The runner slid feet-first into third base just ahead of the throw.
slide + adverb (feet-first) + prepositional phrase
Chidi slid headfirst toward home plate and scored the winning run for his team.
Ramón slid headfirst into second base and knocked the ball out of the fielder's glove.
Jiwoo watched the runner slide into second base, sending dust flying everywhere.
slide into [base] with visual description
- slide into [base]
- slide headfirst
- slide feet-first
Grammar Patterns
slide + adverb + prepositional phrase (into [base])
Usage Note
Used mainly in baseball contexts. The direction or manner of the slide is often specified with an adverb (headfirst, feet-first) and the target base with into or toward.
3. if a musical sound or voice slides, it moves smoothly and continuously from one
if a musical sound or voice slides, it moves smoothly and continuously from one pitch to another without a clear break between the two notes.
The singer's voice slid smoothly from one note to the next during the chorus.
slide + from + note + to + note
A guitar string can slide up the neck to produce a gradual change in pitch.
Liang watched the jazz guitarist slide smoothly into a bent note during the solo of 'Blue Train.'
slide + into + one another for connected notes
The cello's deep notes slid into each other, creating a warm and connected sound.
- slide between notes
- slide up the neck
- slide down the fretboard
Grammar Patterns
slide + from + note + to + note
slide + up / down
Usage Note
Commonly used for the voice, guitar, trombone, violin, and other instruments capable of continuous pitch change. The term 'glissando' is the formal musical term for this effect.
4. to gradually become worse in quality, value, or condition, often because no one
to gradually become worse in quality, value, or condition, often because no one is taking action to stop it — for example, a business sliding toward bankruptcy, or a relationship sliding into silence.
After the factory closed, the small town began to slide into poverty.
slide into + negative state
Christopher watched his physical health slide after he stopped exercising regularly.
Without proper funding, the school's facilities slid into a terrible condition.
passive (facilities slid into...)
The company's profits have slid steadily over the past three financial quarters.
slide + adverb (steadily) for gradual decline
Anong felt her confidence slide every time she failed the driving test.
- slide into [poverty / recession / silence]
- slide toward [bankruptcy / collapse]
- slide steadily
- slide gradually
- decline
suggests a steady, often measurable drop; slide implies more of a loss of control
- deteriorate
more formal, emphasises worsening quality or condition
- drop
quicker or more sudden than slide
Grammar Patterns
slide + into + noun (a state/condition)
slide + adverb (steadily, gradually)
slide + toward + noun
Usage Note
Often followed by into to indicate the resulting worse state. Not used in the passive voice for this sense. Subject is typically an organization, a situation, or a measurable quality (health, profits, confidence).
Common Mistakes
slide — noun
1. a piece of play equipment with a smooth sloping surface that children climb up a
a piece of play equipment with a smooth sloping surface that children climb up and then slide down for fun
The toddler climbed the steps of the slide with help from her father.
collocation: climb the steps of the slide
Bilal waited at the bottom of the slide to catch his little sister.
The park has a new slide with a tunnel at the bottom for kids.
The metal slide felt very hot under the afternoon sun, so the children avoided it.
context: weather effect on equipment
Jiwoo and his friends raced to see who could go down the slide the fastest.
- go down the slide
- play on the slide
- climb the slide
- playground slide
- chute
a more general term for any sloped channel; less common for playground equipment
Usage Note
Commonly used with the verbs 'go down' or 'play on'. Often found in playground settings alongside swings and climbing frames. In British English, also called a 'slide' or 'playground slide'; in American English, sometimes simply 'the slide'.
Common Mistakes
2. one of the individual screens or pages in a computer presentation — typically co
one of the individual screens or pages in a computer presentation — typically containing text, images, charts, or video — that is displayed to an audience one after the other.
Each slide in the presentation contained a single key point about the project.
each slide + prepositional phrase
Hari added a chart to the third slide to show the sales growth clearly.
added [content] to the [ordinal] slide
The presenter moved to the next slide before anyone could read the data.
Students created five slides explaining their science experiment to the class.
create + number + slides
- first slide
- next slide
- slide show
- create a slide
- add a slide
- slide deck
- screen
more general; can refer to any display area, not just a presentation page
Grammar Patterns
slide + number
on the [first/next...] slide
Usage Note
Often used with numbers or ordinals (slide 1, the next slide, the final slide) and with verbs such as 'add,' 'create,' 'move to,' and 'skip.'
Common Mistakes
3. a smooth, continuous movement across a surface, without bumps or interruptions
a smooth, continuous movement across a surface, without bumps or interruptions
The children laughed as the sled picked up speed, enjoying the smooth slide of the runners across the fresh snow.
collocation: smooth slide of [object] across [surface]
A few drops of oil helped the smooth slide of the old kitchen drawer back into its slot.
uncountable usage: the slide of [object]
The dancer's slide across the polished floor amazed the audience.
Iris lost control and the car went into a dangerous slide on the icy road.
phrasal pattern: go into a slide
- smooth slide
- gentle slide
- sudden slide
- dangerous slide
- slide across
- slide over
- go into a slide
Usage Note
Often modified by adjectives like 'smooth', 'gentle', 'sudden', or 'dangerous'. Frequently used in the pattern 'the slide of [something] across/over/down [surface]'.
Common Mistakes
4. a gradual movement into a worse, less controlled, or less successful situation —
a gradual movement into a worse, less controlled, or less successful situation — for example, the slide of an economy into recession or a team's slide toward the bottom of the standings.
The economy's slide into recession worried many small business owners.
slide into + negative outcome
The team's slide from championship contenders to last place shocked their fans.
slide from [good] to [bad]
Doctors noticed a slide in the patient's condition after the infection spread.
slide in [condition]
The company's slide toward bankruptcy forced management to cut costs immediately.
- slide into recession
- slide toward bankruptcy
- slide in standards
- economic slide
- steady slide
- decline
more general; can be gradual or sudden, and used for health, quality, or numbers
- deterioration
more formal; suggests irreversible worsening
- downturn
mainly used for economic or business conditions
- improvement
opposite direction of change
- recovery
returning to a better state after a decline
Grammar Patterns
slide + into/toward + negative outcome
Usage Note
Often followed by 'into' or 'toward' to name the negative outcome (slide into recession, slide toward bankruptcy). Subject is typically an economy, a group, or a person's condition.
Common Mistakes
5. a thin glass rectangle on which tiny samples — such as cells, tissue, or small o
a thin glass rectangle on which tiny samples — such as cells, tissue, or small organisms — are placed for examination under a microscope.
Zola placed the leaf sample on a glass slide before looking through the microscope.
placed [specimen] on a glass slide
Asher carefully cleaned the microscope slide before adding the water sample.
The lab technician labeled each slide with the patient's name and the date.
label each slide with [details]
Christopher prepared a fresh slide of onion cells for the morning class.
prepare a slide of [specimen]
- glass slide
- microscope slide
- prepare a slide
- slide holder
- slide cover
- mount on a slide
- glass slide
more descriptive; specifies the material
- specimen slide
used when emphasizing the sample rather than the glass itself
Grammar Patterns
on a slide
prepare a slide of [specimen]
Usage Note
Often shortened to simply 'slide' in laboratory settings when the context is clear. Common collocations include 'prepare a slide' and 'mount a specimen on a slide.'
6. a type of open, backless shoe, usually made of plastic or rubber, with a broad s
a type of open, backless shoe, usually made of plastic or rubber, with a broad strip that sits across your instep, so you can put it on by simply pushing your foot inside.
Rodrigo wore plastic slides to the beach because they dry very quickly.
plastic slides (material + noun)
Élise slipped on her rubber slides and walked to the corner shop to buy milk before it closed.
The hotel provided white slides for guests to wear around the pool.
Luca bought a pair of rubber slides with thick soles for extra comfort.
a pair of rubber slides
- plastic slides
- rubber slides
- pair of slides
- wear slides
- pool slides
- slide sandals
Grammar Patterns
a pair of slides
wear slides
Usage Note
Typically used in the plural form (slides) even when referring to one pair. In American English, 'slide' or 'slide sandal' is the standard term; 'slipper' is used for indoor house shoes.
Common Mistakes
7. a sudden downward rush of wet earth, loose rocks, or snow along a hillside or mo
a sudden downward rush of wet earth, loose rocks, or snow along a hillside or mountain slope
Heavy rain caused a mud slide that blocked the mountain road for two days.
compound: mud slide / rock slide / landslide
The village near the hill was evacuated after the sudden rock slide.
The heavy rain triggered a slide of mud and rocks that blocked the main road into the valley.
A huge slide of snow buried the hiking trail near the mountain cabin.
pattern: slide of [material]
- mud slide
- rock slide
- snow slide
- cause a slide
- trigger a slide
- block the road
Usage Note
The compound 'landslide' is the most common form. 'Mud slide', 'rock slide', and 'snow slide' also appear, sometimes spelled as one word (mudslide, rockslide). This sense is typically used with verbs like 'cause', 'trigger', 'block', or 'bury'.
Common Mistakes
8. a movable section of a machine or musical instrument that moves backward and for
a movable section of a machine or musical instrument that moves backward and forward to change position or adjust the mechanism
The trombonist pulled the slide in and out to reach the correct notes.
domain: trombone slide
Antonia adjusted the slide on the trumpet to tune it before the concert.
Samir oiled the metal slide on the printing press so the paper tray would glide smoothly.
pattern: the slide on [instrument/machine]
Caleb adjusted the metal slide on the paper cutter before trimming the stack of paper.
pattern: the slide on [tool] for adjustment
- trombone slide
- pull the slide
- adjust the slide
- slide mechanism
- move the slide
- sliding mechanism
a more general technical term for any device that moves by sliding
Usage Note
Most commonly refers to the trombone slide in music. In machinery, often used with a modifier specifying which part (e.g. 'the press slide', 'the valve slide'). For brass instruments other than trombone, the slide is usually shorter and used only for fine tuning adjustments.
Common Mistakes
9. in baseball, a move in which a player throws their body forward along the ground
in baseball, a move in which a player throws their body forward along the ground, usually feet first, to reach a base quickly and avoid being touched by a fielder
Andrés performed a perfect feet-first slide into second base to avoid the tag.
collocation: feet-first slide into [base]
The coach taught the young players how to land a slide without hurting their legs.
collocation: land a slide
A headfirst slide is risky but helps a runner reach the base faster.
compound: headfirst slide
The umpire watched closely whether the runner's slide reached the base before the ball.
- feet-first slide
- headfirst slide
- slide into base
- make a slide
- land a slide
Usage Note
Primarily an American baseball term. Two main types: 'feet-first slide' (safer, more common) and 'headfirst slide' (faster but riskier). The purpose is to avoid being tagged out by the fielder. Frequently used with prepositions 'into' (the base) and 'to' (avoid the tag).
Common Mistakes
10. a frame-mounted strip of film that projects a large picture onto a screen or wal
a frame-mounted strip of film that projects a large picture onto a screen or wall when a bright light shines through it from a projector.
Hana showed her holiday photos using slides and a projector in the living room.
slide + projector
The biology teacher arranged the slides in order before the nature talk began.
Ilan found a box of old slides from his grandmother's trip to Japan.
old slides from [person/event]
The film slides had faded over time, but the mountain views were still beautiful.
- slide projector
- slide show
- box of slides
- photographic slide
- faded slides
- transparency
more formal or technical term for the same object
- film slide
more specific, distinguishing it from other types of slides
Grammar Patterns
slide + projector
a slide of [subject]
Usage Note
This sense is becoming less common as digital photography has largely replaced film-based slides. In modern contexts, 'slide' more often refers to a presentation slide (sense 9).
Common Mistakes
11. a small decorative clip, often made of metal or plastic, used to fasten hair in
a small decorative clip, often made of metal or plastic, used to fasten hair in place — especially on the side of the head.
The little girl wore a bright hair slide shaped like a butterfly.
hair slide shaped like [object]
Noor bought her younger sister a silver hair slide decorated with tiny flowers for her birthday.
Harper pushed the hair slide sideways to keep her fringe out of her eyes.
push the hair slide [direction]
A simple black hair slide can hold thick hair in place all day.
simple + color + hair slide + verb phrase
- hair slide
- silver hair slide
- decorative hair slide
- push a hair slide
- wear a hair slide
- hair clip
more general term; common across all varieties of English
- barrette
common in American English; often refers to a hinged clip
- hair clasp
less common; similar function
Grammar Patterns
hair slide
a [adjective] hair slide
Usage Note
This term is most common in British English. In American English, 'barrette' or 'hair clip' is more frequently used for the same object.
Common Mistakes
12. a musical effect where the pitch rises or falls without a break, so the ear does
a musical effect where the pitch rises or falls without a break, so the ear does not hear separate steps between the starting and ending notes
The guitarist played a smooth slide from a low note up to a higher one.
pattern: slide from [note] to [note]
Sana used a gentle slide between two notes to add emotion to the song's melody.
The violinist's slow slide gave the phrase a warm, singing quality that the audience loved.
During his 'So What' solo, Davis used a quick slide between notes for a relaxed feel.
context: jazz and blues usage
- smooth slide
- gentle slide
- slide from
- slide between
- quick slide
- slide guitar
- portamento
the formal classical term for the same technique; 'portamento' is preferred in classical music notation
- glissando
often confused with slide but usually implies separate, rapid notes rather than a continuous glide
Usage Note
Also called 'portamento' in classical music terminology. Differs from 'glissando', which usually involves quickly sounding each intermediate note separately (e.g., on a piano or harp). Particularly common in trombone, slide guitar, violin, and vocal music.
Common Mistakes
Word family
- slidernounB2
- slidingadjectiveB2
- landslidenounB2
- mudslidenounC1
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four describe movement across a surface, but the key difference is control and intention. Slide is the most neutral verb — it covers both intentional movement (sliding open a drawer) and accidental loss of grip (a box sliding across a truck floor). Slip specifically implies a loss of balance or footing, often on a wet or slippery surface — you slip on ice, but you don't slip a drawer open. Glide suggests smooth, effortless, controlled motion, typically making it sound elegant or graceful (a dancer glides across the stage, a bird glides on the wind). Skid is reserved for vehicles or wheels that have lost traction and move sideways uncontrollably (the car skidded on the wet road). In everyday use: if you slide into a base, it is athletic; if you slip, you fall; if you glide, you look elegant; if you skid, you are in a vehicle that is out of control.
Common collocations
Etymology
Slide comes from Old English slīdan, which meant 'to move smoothly, glide, or slip.' It shares a common Germanic root with Old Saxon slīdan and Old High German slītan. The noun form appeared in Middle English for 'a smooth movement or track.' The playground sense dates from the late 1800s, and the photographic meaning (a mounted film transparency) emerged in the early 1900s. The sense of 'a gradual decline into a worse state' developed figuratively by the early 1800s.