Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun The act or sport of moving or racing in a zigzag course, as in skiing or kayaking.
  • noun A race that follows a zigzag course, laid out with markers such as flags.
  • intransitive verb To move or race in a slalom.
  • intransitive verb To water-ski using a single ski designed so the feet are secured one behind the other.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable, sports The sport of skiing in a zigzag course through gates. (Often used attributively)
  • noun uncountable Any similar activity on other vehicles, including canoes and water skis.
  • noun countable, sports A course used for the sport of slalom.
  • noun countable, sports A race or competition wherein participants each perform the sport of slalom.
  • verb intransitive To race in a slalom.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a downhill race over a winding course defined by upright poles
  • verb race on skis around obstacles

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[Norwegian slalåm : slad, sloping + låm, path.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Norwegian sla ("steep, hill side") and låm ("trail").

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Examples

Comments

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  • This word is hideous. Hideous. And vile.

    February 25, 2010

  • You need to say it sla-LOM as if you were zig-zagging around Jewish people.

    February 25, 2010

  • I tried that. It still blows.

    February 26, 2010

  • And make sure you don't hit the Jewish people as you're coming around the curve.

    February 26, 2010

  • I like this word! I like the mouthfeel, and I like using it to describe all sorts of erratic movement. Watch as I slalom though the milling horde in the direction of the bar. See the toddler slalom through the gaggle of geese!

    February 26, 2010

  • What I'd really like to see is a Salami Slalom event.

    February 26, 2010

  • *note to self: use this word today*

    *and tomorrow*

    *and possibly the day after too*

    rt: Ha! New Winter Olympic event?

    February 26, 2010

  • Sh(l)alom, y'all.

    February 26, 2010

  • *note to self: always say it like this: sla-LOM*

    *snort*

    February 26, 2010

  • Ah, slalom... I like 'em.

    February 26, 2010