slice

1 of 2

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 2

noun

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

Synonyms

Verb

• sliver
• splinter

Noun

• cross section
• sample
• sampler
• sampling
• selection

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

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

Second, pick jarred pimientos that are diced, not sliced. —Southern Living Test Kitchen, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2024

Crumble Smith’s favorite way to eat potatoes is sliced thinly, roasted and added to a salad. —Clare Mulroy, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024

The moon’s shadow will slice a diagonal line from the southwest to the northeast across North America, briefly plunging communities along the track into darkness. —Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024

Bonds Ranch Road slices east from Eagle Mountain Lake across roughly 10 miles of farmland and subdivisions. —Jaime Moore-Carrillo, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024

The jade is sliced to just 1.5mm thick and then hand finished and polished. —Paige Reddinger, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024

During the first three months of this year, the Key Bridge collapsed in Baltimore, a bridge in southern China was sliced in half, and parts of a bridge were cut through in Argentina after large commercial ships collided with them. —Nathaniel Meyersohn, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024

Correspondent Conor Knighton digs into the history of Oregon's state rock, whose beauty is most apparent when sliced open. —David Morgan, CBS News, 29 Mar. 2024

The play that sliced apart San Diego State’s national championship dreams. —Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Mar. 2024

Noun

In the months before, the frailty of the NBA season seems more abstract, each game representing an equal 1.2% slice of the season. —Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 10 Apr. 2024

Repeat with remaining 1½ teaspoons butter, 2 eggs and 4 slices cheese. —Sabrina Weiss, Peoplemag, 9 Apr. 2024

The main hotel's afternoon trestles laid with slices of strudel, mortadella, and pecorino sandwiches—complimentary to guests—are taken with treacle thick espressos or Aperols, depending on your poison. —Jemima Sissons, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 Apr. 2024

Drop some citrus slices or berries for light flavoring if plain water doesn't inspire you. —Hilary Tetenbaum, Detroit Free Press, 8 Apr. 2024

Food blogger Marta Rivera Diaz’s go-to is to simmer a pot of water with lemon slices, bay leaves and cloves, as a stovetop potpourri of sorts. —Aaron Hutcherson, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024

Tear 1 American cheese slice into small pieces and stir into matzo mixture. —Emma Laperruque, Bon Appétit, 1 Apr. 2024

Just this February, Foxconn picked up a slice of land in the western state of Jalisco for $27 million to facilitate a major expansion of its AI server production, people familiar with the plan told the Journal. —Morgan Haefner, Quartz, 31 Mar. 2024

Serve immediately, or chill cake until frosting is firm, 20 to 30 minutes (for clean slices). —Pam Lolley, Southern Living, 30 Mar. 2024

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

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

1613, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing slice

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

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