a surface or piece of land that is higher at one end than the other, so it goes up or down
Kevin pushed his bike up the slope leading to his house.
They rolled a ball down the grassy slope to see how far it would go.
✦ From Middle English slopen, meaning ‘to slip or slide,’ related to the Old English word slūpan ‘to glide.’
the rate at which a line rises or falls on a graph, usually shown as a number or ratio
On the graph, the line’s slope is 2, meaning it rises two units for every one unit across.
The teacher asked the class to calculate the slope between the two plotted points.
✦ The mathematical use developed in the 19th century from the general idea of an inclined surface.
a side of a mountain or hill prepared and used for skiing or snowboarding
Sofia clipped on her skis and glided onto the beginner slope with excitement.
Fresh powder covered the mountain slope, attracting dozens of snowboarders.
✦ From the general sense of an inclined surface, applied to skiing in the early 20th century.
to be or cause to be at an angle, slanting upward or downward
The old roof slopes gently toward the back of the cottage.
The path sloped downward into a shady forest.
✦ From Middle English slopen meaning ‘to slip,’ later shifting to describe the action of inclining.
