slope

/sləʊp//sloʊp/

noun

  1. 1

    An area of ground that tends evenly upward or downward.

    I had to climb a small slope to get to the site.
  2. 2

    The degree to which a surface tends upward or downward.

    The road has a very sharp downward slope at that point.
  3. 3

    The ratio of the vertical and horizontal distances between two points on a line; zero if the line is horizontal, undefined if it is vertical.

    The slope of this line is 0.5
  4. 4

    The slope of the line tangent to a curve at a given point.

    The slope of a parabola increases linearly with x.
  5. 5

    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.
  6. 6

    A person of Chinese or other East Asian descent.

verb

  1. 1

    To tend steadily upward or downward.

    The road slopes sharply down at that point.
  2. 2

    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. 3

    (usually followed by a preposition) To try to move surreptitiously.

    I sloped in through the back door, hoping my boss wouldn't see me.
  4. 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

  1. 1

    Sloping.

adverb

  1. 1

    Slopingly

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