nandhakumarms/qualc-wiktionary-en huggingface dataset:
Word: brusque Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The adjective is borrowed from French brusque, from Italian brusco (“abrupt, sudden, brusque; brisk; eager; sour, tart; unripe; grim-looking”); further etymology unknown. The verb is derived from the adjective. Pronunciation: /bɹʊsk/, /bɹuːsk/, /bɹʌsk/ 1. To act towards (someone or something) in a curt or rudely abrupt manner. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: Had this been done, Denine had not been bruſqued and carried by Villars at the firſt aſſault, […] Example: He was indefatigable while he stayed and took true pains, but he brusqued the ministers too much, and I found after he was gone that he had thereby given more offense than I could have imagined.
Word: carp Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Late Middle English carpe (“the common carp (Cyprinus carpio)”), from Old French carpe, from Late Latin carpa, possibly from Proto-West Germanic *karpo (possibly due to the introduction from the fish from the Danube into England in the 14th century; whence Middle Low German karpe and Old High German charpho, karpho); further etymology unknown. Pronunciation: /ˈkɑːp/, /ˈkɑɹp/ 1. Any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. Example: The Carp is a ſtately, a good, and a ſubtle fiſh, a fiſh that hath not (as it is ſaid) been long in England, but ſaid to be by one Mr. Maſcall (a Gentleman then living at Plumſted in Suſſex) brought into this Nation: […] Carps and Loches are obſerved to breed ſeveral months in one year, vvhich moſt other fiſh do not, and it is the rather believed, becauſe you ſhall ſcarce or never take a Male Carp vvithout a Melt, or a Female vvithout a Roe or Spavvn; […] Example: Like scaly carp and feathered swan To nature's world we do belong. 2. Any of various freshwater fish of the family Cyprinidae. Labels: often, specifically
Word: carp Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The verb is derived from Middle English carpen, karpe (“to chat, converse, talk; to chatter, gossip; to ask; to cry out, wail; to find fault, carp; to relate, tell; to recite; to sing”), and then partly: * from Old Norse karpa (“to boast, brag; to dispute, quarrel”), further etymology unknown; and * from, or influenced by, Latin carpere, the present active infinitive of carpō (“to harvest, pick, pluck; to criticize, revile, slander, carp at”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kerp- (“to harvest, pluck”). The noun is derived from the verb. (Middle English carp, karp (“conversation, discourse, talking; spoken or written message or statement; meaning; news; poem; song; story”), from Old Norse karp (“bragging”), did not survive into modern English.) Pronunciation: /ˈkɑːp/, /ˈkɑɹp/ 1. To criticize or complain about a fault, especially for frivolous or petty reasons; to cavil. Labels: intransitive Example: Here agayne Seruetto carpeth, yͭ God did beare the perſon of an Angel. As thoughe the Prophete did not confirme that whiche Moſes had ſaied: why doeſt thou aſke me of my name? Example: Enuie vvhy carpeſt thou my time is ſpent ſo ill, / And termſt my vvorkes fruites of an idle quill. 2. To speak, to talk; also, to talk about a subject in speech or writing. Labels: intransitive, obsolete 3. To talk much but to little purpose; to chatter, to prattle. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: And some of them barke, / Clatter and carpe / Of that heresy arte / Called Wicleuista, / The deuelysshe dogmatista; […] Example: And therwithall came curiouſneſſe and carped out of frame. / The audience laught to heare the ſtrife as they beheld the ſame. 4. Of a bird: to sing; of a person (such as a minstrel): to sing or recite. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: Hys hart is to hy to haue any hap; / But for in his gamut carp that he can, / Lo, Jak wold be a jentylman! Example: Then aye he harped, and aye he carped, / Till a' the Lordlings footed the floor; / But an' the music was sae sweet, / The groom had nae mind o' the stable door. 5. To say or tell (something). Labels: obsolete, transitive 6. To find fault with (someone or something); to censure, to criticize. Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: Albeit I doe knovve they [the speeches] vvill lie open to the cenſure of the youth of our time, vvho for the moſt part, are ſo over-gulled vvith ſelf-liking, that they are more then giddy in admiring themſelves, and carping vvhatſoever hath beene done or ſaide heeretofore, Nevertheleſſe I hope that all are not of one humour, and doubt not, but that there is diverſitie of taſtes, as vvas among Horaces gueſts; […] Example: [W]hen I ſpoke, / My honeſt homely vvords vvere carp'd, and cenſur'd, / For vvant of Courtly ſtile: […]
Word: carp Part of Speech: noun Etymology: The verb is derived from Middle English carpen, karpe (“to chat, converse, talk; to chatter, gossip; to ask; to cry out, wail; to find fault, carp; to relate, tell; to recite; to sing”), and then partly: * from Old Norse karpa (“to boast, brag; to dispute, quarrel”), further etymology unknown; and * from, or influenced by, Latin carpere, the present active infinitive of carpō (“to harvest, pick, pluck; to criticize, revile, slander, carp at”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *kerp- (“to harvest, pluck”). The noun is derived from the verb. (Middle English carp, karp (“conversation, discourse, talking; spoken or written message or statement; meaning; news; poem; song; story”), from Old Norse karp (“bragging”), did not survive into modern English.) Pronunciation: /ˈkɑːp/, /ˈkɑɹp/ 1. An instance of, or speech, complaining or criticizing about a fault, especially for frivolous or petty reasons; a cavil.
Word: curtail Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Alteration of curtal, from Old French courtault (“which has been shortened”), itself from court (“short”) (from Latin curtus) + -ault Pronunciation: /kɜːˈteɪl/, /kɚˈteɪl/ 1. To cut short the tail of (an animal). Labels: obsolete, transitive Example: Curtailing horses procured long horse-hair. 2. To shorten or abridge the duration of; to bring an end to; to truncate. Labels: transitive Example: When the audience grew restless, the speaker curtailed her speech. Example: Although British involvement in the slave trade prior to 1807 cannot be denied, or its effects diminished, it is also a fact that the Royal Navy was pretty much the only force in the world in the 19th century with the numbers, drive, willingness, firepower, and capability to curtail the global slave trade, and that, without these efforts, many more would no doubt have been taken to slave plantations and other such destinations during the 19th, and possibly even into the 20th, centuries, as it must be remembered that a great many European powers would only begrudgingly commit to ending the slave trade when the other option was continuous war with the British Empire. 3. To limit or restrict; to keep in check. Labels: figuratively, transitive Example: This is the rump of the C.L.C. branch to Southport Lord Street, which lost its passenger services beyond Aintree from January 7, 1952, whereupon the timetable between Gateacre and Aintree was greatly curtailed. Example: The current Israeli government has been working to curtail and eliminate critical voices within Israeli society in recent years, particularly those fighting to end the occupation and expose human rights violations against Palestinians and marginalized communities.
Word: curtail Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Alteration of curtal, from Old French courtault (“which has been shortened”), itself from court (“short”) (from Latin curtus) + -ault Pronunciation: /kɜːˈteɪl/, /kɚˈteɪl/ 1. A scroll termination, as of a step, etc.
Word: decorous Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From the following: * Latin decōrus (“becoming, fitting, proper, suitable”) + English -ous (suffix adjectives denoting presence of a quality in any degree, typically an abundance). Decōrus is derived from decor (“elegrance, grace; charm beauty”) + -us (suffix forming adjectives); and decor is from decēre, the present active infinitive of decet (“to adorn; to be decent; to be proper or suitable”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *deḱ- (“to perceive; to take”). * Possibly also influenced by Late Latin decorōsus (“beautiful; elegant”), from decoris + -ōsus (suffix meaning ‘full of’ forming adjectives from nouns). Decoris is the genitive singular of decus (“beauty, grace, ornament, splendour; distinction, glory, honour”), from Proto-Indo-European *déḱos (“that which is proper”), from *deḱ- (see above). Pronunciation: /ˈdɛkəɹəs/, /ˈdɛkɹəs/, /dɪˈkɔːɹəs/ 1. Marked by behaviour, manners, etc., regarded as proper, tasteful, and in accordance with accepted standards; becoming, seemly. Example: The narrovv path of truth and virtue inclines neither to the right nor left—it is a ſtraightforvvard buſineſs, and they vvho are earneſtly purſuing their road, may bound over many decorous prejudices, vvithout leaving modeſty behind. Example: [S]ome grumbling voice, / Which now and then will make a slight inroad / Upon decorous silence, […] 2. Appropriate, suitable. Labels: obsolete Example: [B]oth the truth vvhich the Prophecy aims at is faithfully conveyed, and that decorous embelliſhment in the external Cortex of the Prophecy punctually obſerved. Example: And it is no vvonder this falling Star or Comet ſhould be looked upon as ſo miſchievous to Rivers and VVaters, vvhen Natural Hiſtory ſpeaks of falling Comets that have drunk up vvhole Rivers; ſo decorous is the repreſentation.
Word: denigrate Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Derived from Latin dēnigrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēnigrō (“to blacken”) [see -ate (verb-forming suffix)], from dē- (“of; from”) + nigrō (“to blacken”) [from niger (“black”)]. Cognate with Middle English denigart(e) (“darkened, discolored”). Pronunciation: /ˈdɛn.ɪ.ɡɹeɪ̯t/, /ˈden.ɪ.ɡɹeɪ̯t/, /ˈden.ɪ.ɡɹæɪ̯t/, /ˈden.ə.ɡɹæɪ̯t/, /ˈdɛn.ɪ.ɡɹet/ 1. To criticize so as to besmirch; traduce, disparage or defame. Labels: transitive Example: What grand engines they were! Yet I have noticed a disposition on the part of quite a diversity of present-day commentators to denigrate those engines. Example: Although in public Soviet officials tend to denigrate the French electric locomotives imported recently, there is little doubt that lessons learnt from these engines will be incorporated in new Russian designs. 2. To treat as worthless; belittle, degrade or disparage. Labels: transitive Example: You have no right to denigrate people and things that you have no personal experience with. 3. To blacken. Labels: rare, transitive
Word: denigrate Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Derived from Latin dēnigrātus, the perfect passive participle of dēnigrō (“to blacken”) [see -ate (verb-forming suffix)], from dē- (“of; from”) + nigrō (“to blacken”) [from niger (“black”)]. Cognate with Middle English denigart(e) (“darkened, discolored”). Pronunciation: /ˈdɛn.ɪ.ɡɹeɪ̯t/, /ˈden.ɪ.ɡɹeɪ̯t/, /ˈden.ɪ.ɡɹæɪ̯t/, /ˈden.ə.ɡɹæɪ̯t/, /ˈdɛn.ɪ.ɡɹet/ 1. Blackened. Labels: transitive
Word: disdain Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English disdeynen, from Old French desdeignier (modern French dédaigner). Pronunciation: /dɪsˈdeɪn/, /dɪˈsteɪn/ 1. A feeling of contempt or scorn. Labels: uncountable Example: The cat viewed the cheap supermarket catfood with disdain and stalked away. Example: He that with ſhepheards and a litle ſpoyle, Durſt in diſdaine of wrong and tyrannie, Defend his freedome gainſt a Monarchie: What will he doe ſupported by a king? 2. That which is worthy to be disdained or regarded with contempt and aversion. Labels: obsolete, uncountable Example: Most loathsom, filthy, foul, and full of vile Disdain. 3. The state of being despised; shame. Labels: obsolete, uncountable Example: The leaves and fruit maintain'd with beauty's sun ; Exempt from envy , but not from disdain
Word: disdain Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English disdeynen, from Old French desdeignier (modern French dédaigner). Pronunciation: /dɪsˈdeɪn/, /dɪˈsteɪn/ 1. To regard (someone or something) with strong contempt. Labels: transitive Example: When the Philistine […] saw David, he disdained him; for he was but a youth. Example: The Messiah, Jesus the son of Mary, is but the apostle of God and His Word, […] The Messiah doth surely not disdain to be a servant of God, nor do the angels who are nigh to Him; and whosoever disdains His service and is too proud, He will gather them altogether to Himself. But as for those who believe and do what is right, He will pay their hire and will give increase to them of His grace. But as for those who disdain and are too proud, He will punish them with a grievous woe, and they shall not find for them other than God a patron or a help. 2. To be indignant or offended. Labels: intransitive, obsolete Example: When the chefe prestes and scribes sawe, the marveylles that he dyd [...], they desdayned, and sayde unto hym: hearest thou what these saye?
Word: dogged Part of Speech: verb Etymology: See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form. Pronunciation: /dɒɡd/, /dɔɡd/, /dɑɡd/ 1. simple past and past participle of dog Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: At night proctors patrolled the street and dogged your steps if you tried to go into any haunt where the presence of vice was suspected. Example: They will replace the four five-car Class 180 Adelantes [...] that have been dogged by poor reliability.
Word: dogged Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English dogged, doggid, doggyd (“characteristics similar to that of a dog”), equivalent to dog + -ed. Pronunciation: /ˈdɒɡɪd/, /ˈdɔɡɪd/ 1. stubbornly persevering, steadfast Example: Still, the dogged obstinacy of his race held him to the pace he had set, and would hold him till he dropped in his tracks. Example: Rushing out to the point above the reef, we watched the conflict between canoe and sea. When the man reached the gas boat, the screams of the boy stopped. With great risk they loaded the canoe till she began to take water. The boy bailed furiously. The long dogged pull of the man's oars challenged death inch by inch, wave by wave.
Word: dogged Part of Speech: adv Etymology: From Middle English dogged, doggid, doggyd (“characteristics similar to that of a dog”), equivalent to dog + -ed. Pronunciation: /ˈdɒɡɪd/, /ˈdɔɡɪd/ 1. very Labels: dated, not-comparable, slang Example: "I'm afraid I've given him a heap of trouble. You see," he explained, looking at Paul critically, "I never thought of eating before I left town, and one gets so dogged hungry, you know walking. I say it is a long tramp, isn't it?"
Word: dogmatic Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle French dogmatique and its etymon, Late Latin dogmaticus, from Hellenistic Ancient Greek δογματικός (dogmatikós, “didactic”), from δόγμα (dógma, “dogma”). Pronunciation: /dɒɡˈmæt.ɪk/, /dɔɡˈmæt.ɪk/, [dɔɡˈmæɾ.ɪk], /dɑɡˈmæt.ɪk/, [dɑɡˈmæɾ.ɪk] 1. Adhering only to principles which are true a priori, rather than truths based on evidence or deduction. Example: Dogmatic philosophies have sought for tests for truth which might dispense us from appealing to the future. Some direct mark, by noting which we can be protected immediately and absolutely, now and forever, against all mistake—such has been the darling dream of philosophic dogmatists. 2. Pertaining to dogmas; doctrinal. 3. Asserting dogmas or beliefs in a superior or arrogant way; opinionated, dictatorial. Example: Ms. Allende does little to dramatize her feminist sentiments -- she simply hammers her points home with dogmatic asides, and starkly lighted tableaux of women being abused and taken advantage by men.
Word: dogmatic Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle French dogmatique and its etymon, Late Latin dogmaticus, from Hellenistic Ancient Greek δογματικός (dogmatikós, “didactic”), from δόγμα (dógma, “dogma”). Pronunciation: /dɒɡˈmæt.ɪk/, /dɔɡˈmæt.ɪk/, [dɔɡˈmæɾ.ɪk], /dɑɡˈmæt.ɪk/, [dɑɡˈmæɾ.ɪk] 1. One of an ancient sect of physicians who went by general principles; opposed to the empiric.
Word: unusual Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From un- + usual. Pronunciation: /ʌnˈjuːʒ(u)əl/ 1. Not usual, out of the ordinary. Example: Every once in a while, though, Idol comes across an unusual talent who just blows everyone away. Example: It’s definitely not unusual for a couple to meet through friends or be set up on a date.
Word: unusual Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From un- + usual. Pronunciation: /ʌnˈjuːʒ(u)əl/ 1. Something that is unusual; an anomaly. Example: I should say that it was very unusual for such men to leave a bottle half empty. How do all these unusuals strike you, Watson? Example: Two of these unusuals have been selected for special effort throughout the season. They are kneeling pads and water-proof garden gloves. During the bulb planting season they are displayed with the bulbs […]
Word: interest Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English interest, from Old French interesse and interest (French intérêt), from Medieval Latin interesse, from Latin interesse. Pronunciation: /ˈɪn.tɹɛst/, /ˈɪn.t(ə.)ɹɪst/, /ˈɪn.tɚ.ɛst/, /ˈɪn.tɚ.əst/, /ˈɪn.tɹəst/ 1. To engage the attention of; to awaken interest in; to excite emotion or passion in, in behalf of a person or thing. Example: It might interest you to learn that others have already tried that approach. Example: Action films don't really interest me. 2. To be concerned with or engaged in; to affect; to concern; to excite. Labels: impersonal, obsolete, often Example: Oh, rather, gracious sir, / Create me to this glory; since my cause / Doth interest this fair quarrel; valued least, / I am his equal. 3. To cause or permit to share. Labels: obsolete Example: The mystical communion of all faithful men is such as maketh every one to be interested in those precious blessings which any one of them receiveth at God's hands.
Word: threat Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English threte, thret, thrat, thræt, threat, from Old English þrēat (“crowd, swarm, troop, army, press; pressure, trouble, calamity, oppression, force, violence, threat”), from Proto-Germanic *þrautaz, closely tied to Proto-Germanic *þrautą (“displeasure, complaint, grievance, labour, toil”), from Proto-Indo-European *trewd- (“to squeeze, push, press”). Cognate with Scots thret, threte, threit (“threat”), Middle High German drōz (“annoyance, disgust, horror, terror, fright”), Middle Low German drōt (“threat, menace, danger”), Faroese treyt (“struggle, labour, distress”), Icelandic þraut (“struggle, labour, distress”), Belarusian, Bulgarian, Macedonian, Russian, and Ukrainian труд (trud, “work, labour”), Czech trud (“effot, hard work”), Polish trud (“hard work”), Serbo-Croatian trȗd (“effort, hard work”). Pronunciation: /θɹɛt/, /θɹet/, /θɾɛt/, /tɹɛt/, /fɹɛt/ 1. An expression of intent to injure or punish another. Example: There is no terror, Cassius, in your threats. Example: At the height of the crisis, according to a retired SAC wing commander, SAC airborne alert bombers deliberately flew past their turnaround points toward Soviet airspace, an unambiguous threat which Soviet radar operators would certainly have recognized and reported. "I knew what my target was," the SAC general adds: "Leningrad." The bombers only turned around when the Soviet freighters carrying missiles to Cuba stopped dead in the Atlantic. 2. An indication of potential or imminent danger. Example: Verifying and addressing actual threats is not paranoia. Example: Many genes with reproductive roles also have antibacterial and immune functions, which indicate that the threat of microbial attack on the sperm or egg may be a major influence on rapid evolution during reproduction. 3. A person or object that is regarded as a danger; a menace. Example: Rooney's United team-mate Chris Smalling was given his debut at right-back and was able to adjust to the international stage in relatively relaxed fashion as Bulgaria barely posed a threat of any consequence. Example: Japan applauds NATO’s identification of China as a threat in the Strategic Concept. The document notes that China poses “systemic challenges” and declared the “deepening strategic partnership” between Moscow and Beijing as one of its main priorities. Significantly, it explained that developments in distant theaters can “directly affect” trans-Atlantic security.
Word: threat Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English threten, from Old English þrēatian (“to press, oppress, repress, correct, threaten”), derived from Proto-Indo-European *trewd- (“to squeeze, push, press”). Cognate with Scots threit (“to threaten”), Dutch verdrieten (“to sadden, displease”), Middle Low German drēten (“to threaten”), German verdrießen (“to bother, vex”), Faroese tróta (“to run out”), Icelandic þrjóta (“to run out, end”), Norwegian tryte (“to run out, end”), Swedish tryda (“to run out”), Gothic 𐌿𐍃𐌸𐍂𐌹𐌿𐍄𐌰𐌽 (usþriutan, “to harass, torment”), Latin trūdō (“to push”), Albanian ndrydh (“to sprain, supress, withdraw”), Belarusian трудзіць (trudzicʹ, “to burden, tire”), Bulgarian тру̀дя (trùdja, “to work”), Czech trudit (“to toil, worry”), Polish trudzić (“to toil, worry”), Russian труди́ть (trudítʹ, “to burden, tire”), Serbo-Croatian trúditi (“to try, make and effot”), Ukrainian труди́ти (trudýty, “to toil, tire”). Pronunciation: /θɹɛt/, /θɹet/, /θɾɛt/, /tɹɛt/, /fɹɛt/ 1. To press; urge; compel. Labels: transitive 2. To threaten. Labels: archaic, transitive Example: An hideous Geant horrible and hye, / That with his talnesse seemd to threat the skye […] Example: What? threat you me with telling of the King? I will auoucht’t in preſence of the King: I dare aduenture to be ſent to th’Towre. 3. To use threats; act or speak menacingly; threaten. Labels: intransitive
Word: shat Part of Speech: verb Etymology: A late innovation, apparently by analogy with sit → sat; spit → spat, etc. First recorded in the eighteenth century. Compare Old English sċāt. Pronunciation: /ʃæt/ 1. simple past and past participle of shit Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: Hey Schlossie [=Jeremy Schloss], I just shat in your shoe. Example: We all lived in small communities, hunted, and foraged. We shat in the woods.
Word: shat Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Arabic شَطّ (šaṭṭ); see chott; for the spelling, compare Shatt al-Arab. Pronunciation: /ʃʌt/ 1. Alternative form of chott. Labels: alt-of, alternative Example: All this region round the shats has been called the “Jerid” from the time of the Arab occupation.
Word: shat Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Sometimes said to be a shortening of an obsolete word (*)shattle (“needle”), but more likely a shortening of the synonymous (pine) shatter. Pronunciation: /ʃæt/ 1. Synonym of shatter (“a pine needle”). Example: Dryden used the car that afternoon to get shats for the hog pen of Ollie Hitchens, who … gave Dryden a dollar for his services in getting the shats … some pine shats for his father. Example: A small, well known, pine shat covered path pushed between two rows of trees.
Word: shoot Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewd- Proto-Indo-European *-eti Proto-Indo-European *(s)kéwdeti? Proto-Germanic *skuttōnąbf.? Proto-Germanic *skeutaną Proto-West Germanic *skeutan Old English sċēotan Middle English schoten English shoot Inherited from Middle English scheten, schoten, from Old English scēotan, from Proto-West Germanic *skeutan, from Proto-Germanic *skeutaną, from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kéwd-e-ti, thematic present of *(s)kewd- (“to shoot, throw”). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian sjitte, Low German scheten, Dutch schieten, German schießen, Danish skyde, Norwegian Bokmål skyte, Norwegian Nynorsk skyta, Swedish skjuta; and also, through Indo-European, with Russian кида́ть (kidátʹ), Albanian hedh (“to throw, toss”), Persian چست (čost, “quick, active”), Lithuanian skudrùs. Pronunciation: /ʃuːt/, /ʃʉwt/, /ʃut/, /ʃʉːt/, /ʃʉt/ 1. The emerging stem and embryonic leaves of a new plant. Example: Prune off yet also superfluous branches, and shoots of this second spring. Example: From the bonfire of last autumn's HS2 decision, there are green shoots pushing through the ashes. 2. A photography session. Example: While you see some of our exploration on camera, I also spent many happy hours between shoots with Chris Nix, digging out dozens of wonderful plans, maps and drawings of projects that I never knew existed, and some that never did exist. 3. A hunt or shooting competition. 4. An event that is unscripted or legitimate. Labels: slang 5. The act of shooting; the discharge of a missile; a shot. Example: The Turkish bow giveth a very forcible shoot. Example: One underneath his horse to get a shoot doth stalk. 6. A rush of water; a rapid. 7. A weft thread shot through the shed by the shuttle; a pick. 8. A shoat; a young pig. 9. A vein of ore running in the same general direction as the lode. Example: where to find a shoot of ore opposite one they may have taken away on a parallel lode Example: 1901, Frank Lee Hess, pubs.usgs.gov report. Rare Metals. TIN, TUNGSTEN, AND TANTALUM IN SOUTH DAKOTA. In the western dike is a shoot about 4 feet in diameter carrying a considerable sprinkling of cassiterite, ore which in quantity would undoubtedly be worth mining. The shoot contains a large amount of muscovite mica with quartz and very little or no feldspar... 10. An inclined plane, either artificial or natural, down which timber, coal, ore, etc., are caused to slide; a chute. Example: That there was no evidence before the jury that at the time of the accident the timber shoot was worked by the defendant company. 11. The act of taking all point cards in one hand. 12. A seismic survey carried out with geophones in an attempt to detect oil. Example: Once the last line of cable has been retrieved, there is little evidence that a shoot has been conducted.
Word: shoot Part of Speech: intj Etymology: Minced oath for shit. Pronunciation: /ʃuːt/, /ʃʉwt/, /ʃut/, /ʃʉːt/, /ʃʉt/ 1. A mild expletive, expressing disbelief or dismay Example: Didn't you have a concert tonight? —Shoot! I forgot! I have to go and get ready… Example: She practically stopped dancing, and started looking over everybody’s heads to see if she could see him. “Oh, shoot!” she said. I'd just about broken her heart—I really had.
Word: shot Part of Speech: adj Etymology: The past participle of shoot. Pronunciation: /ʃɒt/, /ʃɑt/ 1. Tired, weary. Example: I have to go to bed now; I’m shot. 2. Discharged, cleared, or rid of something. Example: Tell me true, are you not glad to be fairly shot of him? 3. Worn out or broken. Labels: colloquial Example: The rear axle will have to be replaced. It’s shot. Example: ... but he finds it hard to resist helping the boss's sister, who also works there and whose body "is more shot than mine." 4. Woven from warp and weft strands of different colours, resulting in an iridescent appearance. Example: The cloak was shot through with silver threads.
Word: shot Part of Speech: verb Etymology: The past participle of shoot. Pronunciation: /ʃɒt/, /ʃɑt/ 1. simple past and past participle of shoot Labels: form-of, participle, past
Word: shot Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Inherited from Middle English schot, from Old English sceot, from Proto-Germanic *skutą; compare the doublet scot. Pronunciation: /ʃɒt/, /ʃɑt/ 1. To load (a gun) with shot. Labels: transitive Example: His order to me was, to see the top Chains put upon the Cables, and the Guns shotted. 2. To sell illegal drugs; to deal. Labels: Multicultural-London-English, transitive Example: The mandem all used to go round there and get head off her, the sister blowing the man line by line while her brother shotted downstairs in the stairwell. Example: [Verse 2:Kano]:If you've been shotting in the manor from way back when and you ain't on a kilo ting, I don't wanna hear about cunch and food and tings, man don't do those tings. 3. To feed small shot to (a horse), as a fraudulent means of disguising broken-windedness. Labels: obsolete, transitive
Word: shot Part of Speech: intj Pronunciation: /ʃɒt/, /ʃɑt/ 1. An expression of gratitude, similar to thank you. Labels: New-Zealand, colloquial
Word: show Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Variant of shove, itself a variant of shive. Pronunciation: /ʃəʊ/, /ʃoʊ/, [ʃoː], [ʃow], /ʃo(w)/ 1. Synonym of shive (“wood fragment of the husk of flax or hemp”). Example: When the flax is ſufficiently watered, it feels ſoft to the grip, and the harle parts eaſily with the boon or ſhow, which laſt is then become brittle, and looks whitiſh. Example: Laſt year (1793) I tranſplanted, from ſeed-beds, into the nurſery, ſeveral fruit-trees; the ground around ſome of which I covered, as above, with flax-ſhows. Notwithſtanding the great heat of the ſummer, none of thoſe trees where the earth was covered with ſhows, died or decayed; becauſe the ſhows prevented the earth under them from being dried by the ſun.
Word: showed Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /ˈʃəʊd/, /ˈʃoʊd/ 1. simple past of show Labels: form-of, past Example: I showed him the report. 2. past participle of show (alternative to shown) Labels: US, form-of, participle, past, proscribed, sometimes Example: Recent polling has showed that 40% are in favour of the candidate. Example: The report had already been showed to him.
Word: shown Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English schauen, schewen (past participle), alternative form of schawid, schewed, past participle of Middle English schewen (“to show”). Morphologically equivalent to show + -n. Pronunciation: /ʃəʊn/, /ʃoʊn/ 1. past participle of show Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: I had shown him the report already. Example: The report had already been shown to him.
Word: shrunk Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /ˈʃɹʌŋk/, [ˈʃɹʷʌŋk], /ˈʃɹʊŋk/, /ˈʃɾʌŋk/, /ˈʃɾəŋk/ 1. simple past and past participle of shrink Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: Fanny shrunk back to her seat, with feelings sadly pained by his language and his smell of spirits; […]
Word: shrunk Part of Speech: adj Pronunciation: /ˈʃɹʌŋk/, [ˈʃɹʷʌŋk], /ˈʃɹʊŋk/, /ˈʃɾʌŋk/, /ˈʃɾəŋk/ 1. shrunken Example: […]this fellow wil but ioyne you together, as they ioyne / Wainscot, then one of you wil proue a ſhrunke pannell[…]
Word: shut Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English schitten, schetten, from Old English scyttan (“to cause rapid movement, shoot a bolt, shut, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skutjaną, *skuttijaną (“to bar, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skuttą, *skuttjō (“bar, bolt, shed”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewd- (“to drive, fall upon, rush”). The Modern English word was originally a dialect form; the Old English word would have normally merged with shit. Cognate with Dutch schutten (“to shut in, lock up”), Low German schütten (“to shut, lock in”), German schützen (“to shut out, dam, protect, guard”). Pronunciation: /ʃʌt/, /ʃʊt/, /ʃɛt/ 1. To close, in various senses. Labels: intransitive, transitive Example: Please shut the door. Example: The light was so bright I had to shut my eyes. 2. To close, in various senses. Labels: intransitive, transitive Example: He has shut his mind to new ideas. 3. To close, in various senses. Labels: UK, intransitive, transitive Example: They generally shut the museum each day at 6 pm. Example: The supermarket shuts at eight o'clock. 4. To close, in various senses. Labels: intransitive, transitive Example: We are shutting the phone lines at 9 pm. Example: They shut the airport because of a bomb scare. 5. To close, in various senses. Labels: intransitive, transitive Example: Phone lines will shut in ten minutes. 6. To close, in various senses. Labels: ergative, intransitive, transitive Example: Shut the file when you have finished reading data. Example: This app has a bug: when you try to sort a large spreadsheet, it shuts. 7. To catch or snag in the act of shutting something. Labels: transitive Example: He's just gone and shut his finger in the door! 8. To confine in an enclosed area; to enclose. Labels: transitive Example: I shut the cat in the kitchen before going out. 9. To isolate, to close off from the world. Labels: transitive Example: Now, sometimes in my sorrow shut, ⁠Or breaking into song by fits; ⁠Alone, alone, to where he sits, The Shadow cloak’d from head to foot Who keeps the keys of all the creeds, ⁠I wander, often falling lame, […] 10. To preclude, exclude. Labels: transitive Example: shut from every shore 11. Synonym of shut up (“to stop talking or arguing”). Labels: colloquial Example: DD, what an idiot, please shut and quit distracting me with your drivel. Example: Yes, BT's caller ID *does* send CLI before ringing, that is the major advantage of it, but if you don't realise that there are TWO standards in use in the UK (Bellcore's standard is alive and kicking right here in good ol' UK), then please shut and stop spouting on about something you know nothing about. 12. simple past and past participle of shut Labels: form-of, participle, past
Word: shut Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English schitten, schetten, from Old English scyttan (“to cause rapid movement, shoot a bolt, shut, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skutjaną, *skuttijaną (“to bar, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skuttą, *skuttjō (“bar, bolt, shed”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewd- (“to drive, fall upon, rush”). The Modern English word was originally a dialect form; the Old English word would have normally merged with shit. Cognate with Dutch schutten (“to shut in, lock up”), Low German schütten (“to shut, lock in”), German schützen (“to shut out, dam, protect, guard”). Pronunciation: /ʃʌt/, /ʃʊt/, /ʃɛt/ 1. Closed, not open, in any of various senses. Labels: not-comparable Example: A shut door barred our way into the house. Example: The door banged shut with a breeze. 2. Closed, not open, in any of various senses. Labels: not-comparable Example: Phone lines are now shut. 3. Closed, not open, in any of various senses. Labels: not-comparable Example: Banks are shut on bank holidays. Example: The museum is shut for the Christmas holidays. 4. Closed, not open, in any of various senses. Labels: not-comparable Example: He mind is shut to new ideas. 5. Closed, not open, in any of various senses. Labels: especially, not-comparable 6. Synonym of close. Labels: not-comparable 7. Synonym of close. Labels: archaic, not-comparable Example: Whenever a syllable is formed with a long, that is an open vowel, they account the syllable long; and whenever formed with a short, that is a shut vowel, they reckon it short. 8. Archaic form of shot (“discharged, cleared, rid of something”). Labels: alt-of, archaic, not-comparable Example: When he asked her, she said, she thanked God he was dead, (the woman was glad to get shut of him) and said he died of an ague and fever.
Word: shut Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English schitten, schetten, from Old English scyttan (“to cause rapid movement, shoot a bolt, shut, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skutjaną, *skuttijaną (“to bar, bolt”), from Proto-Germanic *skuttą, *skuttjō (“bar, bolt, shed”), from Proto-Indo-European *(s)kewd- (“to drive, fall upon, rush”). The Modern English word was originally a dialect form; the Old English word would have normally merged with shit. Cognate with Dutch schutten (“to shut in, lock up”), Low German schütten (“to shut, lock in”), German schützen (“to shut out, dam, protect, guard”). Pronunciation: /ʃʌt/, /ʃʊt/, /ʃɛt/ 1. The act or time of shutting; close. Example: the shut of a door Example: Just then returnd at ſhut of Evening Flours. 2. A door or cover; a shutter. 3. The line or place where two pieces of metal are welded together.
Word: shut Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Variation of chute or shute (archaic, related to shoot) from Old English scēotan. Pronunciation: /ʃʌt/, /ʃʊt/, /ʃɛt/ 1. A narrow alley or passage acting as a short cut through the buildings between two streets. Labels: Shropshire, UK, dialectal
Word: sang Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /ˈsæŋ/, [ˈsæŋ], /ˈseɪ̯ŋ/, [ˈseɪ̯ŋ] ~ /ˈsɛ̃ŋ/, [ˈsɛ̃ŋ] 1. simple past of sing Labels: form-of, past
Word: sang Part of Speech: noun Pronunciation: /ˈsæŋ/, [ˈsæŋ], /ˈseɪ̯ŋ/, [ˈseɪ̯ŋ] ~ /ˈsɛ̃ŋ/, [ˈsɛ̃ŋ] 1. Alternative form of sheng (“Chinese wind instrument”). Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: sang Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Abbreviation of ginseng Pronunciation: /ˈsæŋ/, [ˈsæŋ], /ˈseɪ̯ŋ/, [ˈseɪ̯ŋ] ~ /ˈsɛ̃ŋ/, [ˈsɛ̃ŋ] 1. ginseng Labels: Appalachia, slang, uncountable
Word: sang Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Abbreviation of ginseng Pronunciation: /ˈsæŋ/, [ˈsæŋ], /ˈseɪ̯ŋ/, [ˈseɪ̯ŋ] ~ /ˈsɛ̃ŋ/, [ˈsɛ̃ŋ] 1. to gather wild ginseng Labels: Appalachia, slang
Word: sung Part of Speech: verb Pronunciation: /sʌŋ/, /sʊŋ/, /sʊŋɡ/ 1. past participle of sing Labels: form-of, participle, past 2. simple past of sing Labels: archaic, dialectal, form-of, past Example: And they sung as it were a new song before the throne, and before the four beasts, and the elders, and no man could learn that song but the hundred and forty and four thousand, which were redeemed from the earth. Example: Lulled by the Syren-song that my own heart sung to me, with eyes shut to all sight, and ears closed to all sound of danger, I drifted nearer and nearer to the fatal rocks.
Word: sit Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sed- Proto-Indo-European *-yeti Proto-Indo-European *sédyeti Proto-Germanic *sitjaną Proto-West Germanic *sittjan Old English sittan Middle English sitten English sit From Middle English sitten, from Old English sittan, from Proto-West Germanic *sittjan, from Proto-Germanic *sitjaną, from Proto-Indo-European *sed- (“sit”). Cognates Cognate with West Frisian sitte, Low German sitten, Dutch zitten, German sitzen, Swedish sitta, Norwegian Bokmål sitte, Norwegian Nynorsk sitja, Danish sidde, Faroese sita, Icelandic sitja; and with Irish suigh, Latin sedeo, Russian сиде́ть (sidétʹ). Pronunciation: /sɪt/ 1. An act of sitting. 2. Subsidence of the roof of a coal mine. 3. An event, usually lasting one full day or more, where the primary goal is to sit in meditation. Labels: rare
Word: sit Part of Speech: noun Pronunciation: /sɪt/ 1. Clipping of situation. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of, clipping, informal Example: The increasing scope of the disaster was relayed in short, terse sentences whose brevity does not conceal the unfolding nightmare. […] In mid-afternoon at 1600: “Sit is getting worse; need help badly,” “have considerable number of wounded that are unable to evacuate.”
Word: sat Part of Speech: verb Etymology: See sit. Pronunciation: /sæt/ 1. simple past and past participle of sit Labels: form-of, participle, past Example: I sat in the middle of the park. Example: Jill sat Jack down for a talk.
Word: sat Part of Speech: adj Etymology: Clippings. Pronunciation: /sæt/ 1. Abbreviation of satisfactory. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of 2. Abbreviation of satisfied. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of 3. Abbreviation of saturated. Labels: abbreviation, alt-of
Word: sat Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Clippings. Pronunciation: /sæt/ 1. Abbreviation of satellite (“artificial orbital body”). Labels: abbreviation, alt-of 2. Abbreviation of satori (“a mutant gene of Drosophila, a genus of fruit flies, that causes homosexual behaviour in males (specifically, courtship directed to other males)”). Labels: abbreviation, alt-of 3. Abbreviation of satoshi (“a hundred-millionth of a bitcoin”). Labels: abbreviation, alt-of 4. Level of saturation (especially of oxygen in the blood). Example: Also, your blood pressure and oxygen sats – that's the amount of oxygen in your blood. Example: [T]his is her third admission for breathing difficulties. The first two admissions we managed to control her and discharge her home with her mum. This time we can't get her oxygen sats up—they're actually falling.
Word: slay Part of Speech: verb Etymology: From Middle English sleen, slen, from Old English slēan (“to hit, punch, strike; to kill”), from Proto-West Germanic *slahan, from Proto-Germanic *slahaną (“to hit, strike; to kill”), from Proto-Indo-European *slak- (“to hit, strike, throw”). Cognates Cognate with Alemannic German schlaa (“to beat, hit”), Central Franconian schlage, schlon, schloon (“to beat, hit, strike”), Dutch and Low German slaan (“to beat, hit, strike”), German schlagen, schlahen, schlahn (“to beat, hit, strike”), Luxembourgish schloen (“to beat, defeat, hit”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish slå (“to beat, hit, strike”), Faroese sláa (“to beat, strike”), Icelandic slá (“to hit, strike”), Gothic 𐍃𐌻𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌽 (slahan, “to hit, smite, strike”). Related to slaughter, onslaught. Pronunciation: /sleɪ/ 1. To kill; to murder. Labels: literary, transitive Example: The knight slew the dragon. Example: Our foes must all be slain. 2. To eradicate or stamp out. Labels: literary, transitive Example: You must slay these thoughts. 3. To defeat; to overcome (in a competition or contest). Labels: broadly, excessive, informal, transitive 4. To delight or overwhelm, especially with laughter. Labels: slang, transitive Example: Ha ha! You slay me! Example: He snapped his fingers contemptuously at the alarm clock. "I fear thee not, thou ticking tyrant." "You slay me," grinned Cedric. 5. To amaze, stun, or otherwise incapacitate by excellence; to excel at something. Labels: ambitransitive Example: Your outfit slays! Example: Movie buffs will love this costume from Beetlejuice. And even if you don't have someone to double team this look with, each costume can easily slay on its own. 6. To have sex with. Labels: slang
Word: slay Part of Speech: adj Etymology: From Middle English sleen, slen, from Old English slēan (“to hit, punch, strike; to kill”), from Proto-West Germanic *slahan, from Proto-Germanic *slahaną (“to hit, strike; to kill”), from Proto-Indo-European *slak- (“to hit, strike, throw”). Cognates Cognate with Alemannic German schlaa (“to beat, hit”), Central Franconian schlage, schlon, schloon (“to beat, hit, strike”), Dutch and Low German slaan (“to beat, hit, strike”), German schlagen, schlahen, schlahn (“to beat, hit, strike”), Luxembourgish schloen (“to beat, defeat, hit”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish slå (“to beat, hit, strike”), Faroese sláa (“to beat, strike”), Icelandic slá (“to hit, strike”), Gothic 𐍃𐌻𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌽 (slahan, “to hit, smite, strike”). Related to slaughter, onslaught. Pronunciation: /sleɪ/ 1. That slays (in any sense).
Word: slay Part of Speech: noun Etymology: From Middle English sleen, slen, from Old English slēan (“to hit, punch, strike; to kill”), from Proto-West Germanic *slahan, from Proto-Germanic *slahaną (“to hit, strike; to kill”), from Proto-Indo-European *slak- (“to hit, strike, throw”). Cognates Cognate with Alemannic German schlaa (“to beat, hit”), Central Franconian schlage, schlon, schloon (“to beat, hit, strike”), Dutch and Low German slaan (“to beat, hit, strike”), German schlagen, schlahen, schlahn (“to beat, hit, strike”), Luxembourgish schloen (“to beat, defeat, hit”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish slå (“to beat, hit, strike”), Faroese sláa (“to beat, strike”), Icelandic slá (“to hit, strike”), Gothic 𐍃𐌻𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌽 (slahan, “to hit, smite, strike”). Related to slaughter, onslaught. Pronunciation: /sleɪ/ 1. Something excellent, amazing, or fashionable. Example: Equally effervescent was EmRata [Emily Ratajkowski] in 2001 Versace; meanwhile Zendaya, clothed in a 1996 John Galliano for Givenchy gown that could rival Queen Victoria’s regal mourning robes, was a slay for the ages. Example: “Let’s work it out on a remix” can be applied to many situations. It’s a public truce under the guise of a joint slay. A bride is making unreasonable demands of her wedding party and the maid of honor might quit? They should work it out on a remix (establish a budget).
Word: slay Part of Speech: intj Etymology: From Middle English sleen, slen, from Old English slēan (“to hit, punch, strike; to kill”), from Proto-West Germanic *slahan, from Proto-Germanic *slahaną (“to hit, strike; to kill”), from Proto-Indo-European *slak- (“to hit, strike, throw”). Cognates Cognate with Alemannic German schlaa (“to beat, hit”), Central Franconian schlage, schlon, schloon (“to beat, hit, strike”), Dutch and Low German slaan (“to beat, hit, strike”), German schlagen, schlahen, schlahn (“to beat, hit, strike”), Luxembourgish schloen (“to beat, defeat, hit”), Danish, Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, and Swedish slå (“to beat, hit, strike”), Faroese sláa (“to beat, strike”), Icelandic slá (“to hit, strike”), Gothic 𐍃𐌻𐌰𐌷𐌰𐌽 (slahan, “to hit, smite, strike”). Related to slaughter, onslaught. Pronunciation: /sleɪ/ 1. Used to express approval or amazement. Example: Despite its dismal performance at the box office, Jennifer’s Body has become a cult favourite – particularly amongst queer women. The horror-comedy stars Megan Fox as a cheerleader who becomes possessed by a succubus – a demon who seduces men, kills them and devours their flesh etc. Slay!
Word: slay Part of Speech: noun Etymology: See sley 1. Alternative form of sley Labels: alt-of, alternative
Word: slew Part of Speech: noun Etymology: In all senses, a mostly British spelling of slue. Pronunciation: /sl(j)uː/, /slɪu̯/ 1. The act, or process of slewing. 2. A device used for slewing. 3. A change of position. Example: Bond automatically slammed the brakes full on and braced all his sinews against the wheel to correct the inevitable slew to the left, but he only kept control for a split second.
Word: slew Part of Speech: verb Etymology: In all senses, a mostly British spelling of slue. Pronunciation: /sl(j)uː/, /slɪu̯/ 1. To rotate or turn something about its axis. Labels: transitive Example: His gunnery officer, Lieutenant Commander William R. D. Nickelson, Jr., preferred to respond with other hardware. At once he shouted into his headset mike: "Fuck that! Open fire!" His assistant, Lloyd Mustin, was recording accurate ranges from the narrowcasting fire-control radar and didn't need help from other wavelengths. "Action port. Illuminating ship is target," he instructed his gun captains. Mustin, controlling the after trio of five-inch mounts, and Nickelson slewed their directors onto the lights and opened fire immediately. 2. To veer a vehicle. Labels: transitive Example: As the 5th Battle Squadron comes into the range of the High Seas Fleet, Admiral Evan-Thomas, who, so far, has dutifully followed Beatty's orders (or lack of them), has finally had just about enough. He can see the danger, plain as day, as the High Seas Fleet's leading elements open up a barrage with every gun they possess. He therefore issues his own squadron orders to expect to have to make sudden course changes and to follow his lead, before ordering the wheel hard over and slewing Barham around. Valiant and Warspite move to follow, replicating the "turn in succession" order, whilst the trailing HMS Malaya sees the oncoming danger and prepares to turn as soon as it possibly can without crashing into Warspite. 3. To insert extra ticks or skip some ticks of a clock to slowly correct its time. Labels: transitive 4. To pivot. Labels: intransitive 5. To skid. Labels: intransitive 6. To move something (usually a railway line) sideways. Labels: transitive Example: The single line was slewed onto the disused up formation to make way for the future redoubling. Example: Treforest: The track has been slewed to create space for the new island station platform at Treforest Estate, on the Cardiff-Merthyr line. 7. To make a public mockery of someone through insult or wit. Labels: UK, slang, transitive
Word: slew Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Attested since at least 1708, a North American variant of slough. Pronunciation: /sluː/, /sl(j)uː/, /slɪu̯/ 1. Alternative spelling of slough (“a marshy or swampy place”) (reflecting the alternative pronunciation). Labels: alt-of, alternative Example: The prairie round about is wet, at times almost marshy, especially at the borders of the great reedy slews.
Word: slew Part of Speech: verb Etymology: Ablaut of slay, from Middle English slew, sleugh, past of Middle English sleen. Replaced earlier Middle English slough, slogh, from Old English slōg (past of Old English slēan (“to hit, strike, slay”)), due to the influence of knew, drew, etc. More at slay. Pronunciation: /sl(j)uː/, /slɪu̯/ 1. simple past of slay Labels: form-of, past
Word: slew Part of Speech: noun Etymology: Borrowed from Irish slua (“crowd”) and Scottish Gaelic sluagh (“crowd”), from Middle Irish slúag, from Old Irish slóg, from Proto-Celtic *slougos (“troop, army”), from Proto-Indo-European *slowgʰos, *slowgos (“entourage”). Pronunciation: /sl(j)uː/, /slɪu̯/ 1. A large amount. Example: She has a slew of papers and notebooks strewn all over her desk. Example: There has been a slew of documents about Scottish transport planning in recent weeks. 2. A crowd or large number of people.