What is slide? Pronunciation and usage in English

slide means . Learn how to pronounce and use slide through vivid examples and easy-to-understand exercises.

Definition & pronunciation of slide

slideverb

/slʌɪd/
Definition & pronunciation of slide

Okay, let's break down how to pronounce "slide" in English. There are two common pronunciations, and it depends on where you are and what dialect you're hearing.

1. The Most Common Pronunciation (American English):

  • IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet): /slaɪd/
  • How it sounds: It's pronounced like "slight" but without the "gt" sound. It’s a short, quick "i" sound followed by a "d" sound.
    • "sl" – Sounds like "sl" in "slip"
    • "i" – A short "i" sound, like in "bit"
    • "d" – A quick, light "d" sound.

2. The British Pronunciation:

  • IPA: /slaɪd/ (same as American) – However, it's often said with a slightly more drawn-out ‘i’ sound.
  • How it sounds: Very similar to the American pronunciation, but sometimes with a slightly more noticeable "i" sound. It can sound a little more like "slighd."

Tips for Saying it Right:

  • Focus on the "light" 'i': Don’t overemphasize the vowel sound. It's a quick, brief "i" like in "bit".
  • The 'd' is soft: Don’t pronounce it too strongly. It should be a quick, almost breathy "d".

Resources for Hearing the Pronunciation:

  • Google Translate: Type "slide" into Google Translate and click the speaker icon.
  • Forvo: https://forvo.com/word/slide/ - This website has recordings of the word pronounced by native speakers from different regions.

To help me give you even more targeted advice, could you tell me:

  • Where are you located (generally)? (e.g., United States, United Kingdom, Australia, etc.) This helps me tailor the pronunciation to a specific dialect.

Usage and examples with the word slide in English

Let's break down how to use the word "slide" in English. It's a surprisingly versatile word with multiple meanings! Here's a categorized breakdown with examples:

1. Physical Movement – Sliding (Down a Surface)

  • Definition: To move smoothly and quickly over a surface, often with friction reduced.
  • Examples:
    • "The children loved to slide down the water slide."
    • "He slid on the ice and fell."
    • "The ball slid across the floor."
    • "The penguin slides gracefully over the ice."

2. Moving Objects or Materials – Sliding (Across)

  • Definition: To move something across a surface, often without much resistance.
  • Examples:
    • "The tablecloth slid under the dinner plates."
    • "He slid the box across the room."
    • "The rain slid off the windows."
    • "The guitar slid smoothly across his fingers."

3. Figurative – Sliding (Progressing)

  • Definition: To move or progress gradually to a new stage or position. This is a very common usage.
  • Examples:
    • "Sales have been sliding downwards this quarter." (meaning decreasing)
    • "His career is sliding into decline." (meaning worsening)
    • "She slid effortlessly into her new role." (meaning she started easily)
    • "The company is sliding toward bankruptcy.” (heading towards bankruptcy)

4. “Slide” as a Verb (Presenting Information)

  • Definition: To present information in a series of connected slides, typically in a presentation (like a PowerPoint).
  • Examples:
    • "I need to slide you the presentation this afternoon." (meaning send you)
    • "He slid his presentation to the board of directors."
    • "Don't just slide through the material; really understand it."

5. “Slide” as a Noun (A Slide)

  • Definition: A sloping surface for sliding down.
  • Examples:
    • "We went to a park with a slide."
    • “The slide was very fast!”

6. “Slide” as an Idiom – (Giving or Passing Something)

  • Definition: To quietly or surreptitiously give someone something.
  • Examples:
    • “He slid a twenty dollar bill into her hand.” (meaning quietly handed it over)
    • “He slid me a note with the meeting details.” (a discreet way of passing information)

7. ‘Slide’ as an Idiom - (To easily escape a difficult situation)

  • Definition: To easily escape a difficult situation
  • Examples:
    • “He slid out of the interrogation without revealing anything.”

Key Considerations & Tips:

  • Context is crucial: The meaning of "slide" depends entirely on the context of the sentence.
  • Verb vs. Noun: Pay attention to whether "slide" is being used as a verb (an action) or a noun (a thing).
  • Figurative Language: The figurative meanings are very common, so be aware of them.

To help me give you an even more tailored answer, could you tell me:

  • What specifically are you trying to use the word “slide” in? (e.g., "I want to describe a child playing on a slide," or "I'm writing a sentence about a company's financial performance.")

Synonyms for the word slide

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