slur
slur Lexical Profile
slur Game Scores & Validity
• noun
An insinuation or allegation about someone that is likely to insult them or damage their reputation; a derogatory or offensive term.
"The politician immediately apologized for the offensive slur made during the heated debate."
An act of speaking indistinctly so that the sounds run into one another.
"A noticeable slur in a patient's speech can be an early warning sign of a stroke."
A curved line in musical notation indicating that the notes it embraces are to be played or sung smoothly and without separation.
"The violinist practiced the passage carefully to observe every slur marked in the score."
• verb
To speak indistinctly so that the sounds run into one another.
"Exhausted after a twenty-four-hour shift, the resident began to slur his words slightly."
To make a damaging or disparaging remark about someone; to malign or insult.
"The article was criticized for attempting to slur the integrity of the independent committee."
To perform a group of musical notes smoothly and without separation.
"The conductor instructed the woodwinds to slur the first two beats of each measure."
• Rhymes for slur
Word Origin & Etymology
First recorded in the late 15th century meaning 'fluid mud', probably from a Middle Low German or Middle Dutch word meaning 'to drag or trail in mud'. The sense of smearing someone's reputation and sliding over speech sounds developed in the 17th century.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.