slice

1 of 3

verb

ˈslīs 

sliced; slicing

transitive verb

1

: to cut with or as if with a knife

2

: to stir or spread with a slice

3

: to hit (a ball) so that a slice results

4

: interpret, construe

—used in phrases like any way you slice it

intransitive verb

1

: to slice something

2

: to move with a cutting action

the ship sliced through the waves

sliceable

ˈslī-sə-bəl 

adjective

slicer noun

slice

2 of 3

noun (1)

1

a

: a thin flat piece cut from something

b

: a wedge-shaped piece (as of pie or cake)

2

: a spatula for spreading paint or ink

3

: a serving knife with wedge-shaped blade

a fish slice

4

: a flight of a ball that deviates from a straight course in the direction of the dominant hand of the player propelling it

also : a ball following such a course compare hook

5

a

: portion, share

b

: segment, sample

slicer

3 of 3

noun (2)

slic·​er

ˈslīsə(r)

plural -s

1

: an implement designed for cutting: such as

a

: a piece of cutlery for slicing food by hand

roast slicer

fruit slicer

cheese slicer

b

: a mechanically operated device usually employing a revolving disk for slicing

food slicer

veneer slicer

slicer for sugar beets

c

: a lapidary's slitter

d

: clipper sense 2b

2

: a person using a cutting implement: such as

a

: one that cuts materials (such as butter, bread, fruit) by hand or by machine

b

: a worker who cuts slits in turpentine trees for the insertion of gutters

Synonyms of slice

Verb

• chop
• split

Noun (1)

• sample
• sampling

Examples of slice in a Sentence

Verb

She sliced the lemon in half.

He sliced open his finger while cleaning the fish.

The knife sliced through the cake easily.

Noun (1)

thin slices of roast beef

The Fourth of July parade was a real slice of Americana.

He hit a slice into the right rough.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After 24 hours, cut the roast in half and slice as thinly as possible using a deli slicer or electric knife. — ABC News, 2 Oct. 2026

My plastic fork sliced right through the fluffy, dessert-like dish after topping it off with some syrup, and the taste wasn’t too far off from the ones back home. — Evan Moore, Charlotte Observer, 29 Sep. 2026

Noun

Still, this would likely be a limited slice of overall economic activity in a world where AI is more capable than humans. — Geoffrey Irving, Time, 3 Oct. 2026

The thick, crispy and wonderfully cheesy slices cost between $10 and $12 at the festival. — Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English sklicen, from Anglo-French esclicer to splinter, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German slīzan to tear apart — more at slit

Noun (1) and Noun (2)

Middle English sclise, slise, from Anglo-French esclice splinter, from esclicer

First Known Use

Verb

1551, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing slice

• any way you slice it
• a piece/slice/share of the pie
• a slice of life
• a slice of the cake
• fish slice
• no matter how you slice it
• pre-slice
• slice and dice
• slice off
• slice-of-life

Rhymes for slice

• dice
• feis
• gneiss
• grice
• ice
• lice
• mice
• spice
• splice
• thrice
• trice
• twice

Kids Definition

slice

1 of 2 noun

ˈslīs 

1

a

: a thin flat piece cut from something

a slice of bread

b

: a wedge-shaped piece (as of pie or cake)

2

: the flight of a ball curving to the right when hit by someone right-handed or to the left when hit by someone left-handed

slice

2 of 2 verb

sliced; slicing

1

a

: to cut with or as if with a knife

b

: to cut something into slices

2

: to hit a ball so that a slice results

slicer noun