Definitions

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

  • intransitive verb To turn (something) on an axis; rotate.
  • intransitive verb To turn sharply; veer.
  • intransitive verb To turn about an axis.
  • intransitive verb To turn or slide sideways or off course; skid.
  • noun The act of slewing.
  • noun A large amount or number; a lot.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Preterit of slay.
  • noun A spelling of slue, slue, slough.
  • noun A swift tideway; an eddy.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • imp. of slay.
  • transitive verb See slue.
  • noun A wet place; a river inlet.

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

  • noun US A large amount.
  • verb Simple past of slay.
  • noun The act, or process of slaying.
  • noun A device used for slaying.
  • noun A change of position.
  • verb transitive, nautical To rotate or turn something about its axis.
  • verb transitive To veer a vehicle.
  • verb transitive To insert extra ticks or skip some ticks of a clock to slowly correct its time.
  • verb intransitive To pivot.
  • verb intransitive To skid.
  • verb transitive, rail transport to move something (usually a railway line) sideways
  • verb transitive, UK, slang To make a public mockery of someone through insult or wit.

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

  • verb turn sharply; change direction abruptly
  • verb move obliquely or sideways, usually in an uncontrolled manner
  • noun (often followed by `of') a large number or amount or extent

Etymologies

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

[Origin unknown.]

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

[Irish Gaelic sluagh, multitude, from Old Irish slúag.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

From Irish slua ("crowd") (noun only)

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

In all senses, a mostly British spelling of slue.

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Examples

  • But that slew is a whole other stew, and quite another story as well …

    An Encounter | Miette's Bedtime Story Podcast 2009

  • Near faint at the thought, a certain slew of words had the effect of smelling salts and I perked right up.

    French Word-A-Day: 2008

  • Near faint at the thought, a certain slew of words had the effect of smelling salts and I perked right up.

    French Word-A-Day: 2008

  • Near faint at the thought, a certain slew of words had the effect of smelling salts and I perked right up.

    arrosoir - French Word-A-Day 2008

  • While last year's top pitching prospects are at various stages of rehab from injuries, a new slew is making its presence felt.

    USATODAY.com 2002

  • I called a slew of people, no one around, or no one doing anything, people hanging out, being mellow, waiting for the next night.

    1st half of a long weekend!!! barbylon 2002

  • I called a slew of people, no one around, or no one doing anything, people hanging out, being mellow, waiting for the next night.

    1st half of a long weekend!!! barbylon 2002

  • It was so controversial among his party that Tom DeLay had to break a slew of ethics rules and hold a 15-minute vote open for more than three hours to pass the legislation.

    Do Republican presidents really refuse compromise? Ezra Klein 2010

  • In fact, when news broke late Friday night, Reid started calling a slew of African-American leaders.

    CNN Transcript Jan 11, 2010 2010

  • In fact, when news broke late Friday night, Reid started calling a slew of African-American leaders.

    CNN Transcript Jan 11, 2010 2010

Comments

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  • A double contronym(!): meaning both to turn sharply *and* to move smoothly. Also, meaning both a reduction ("kill off") and a plentitude.

    August 29, 2008

  • Citation on whaleman.

    September 9, 2008

  • "v. To insert extra ticks or skip some ticks of a clock to slowly correct its time."

    --Wiktionary

    March 6, 2012

  • You have a slew option here.

    February 22, 2015