slide rule

noun

: a manual device used for calculation that consists in its simple form of a ruler and a movable middle piece which are graduated with similar logarithmic scales

Examples of slide rule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Indeed, the term itself appears to have been coined just after World War II, at which point shipbuilders were already doing it at enormous scale to lengthen warships, in some of the most complex engineering work ever attempted in the slide rule era. New Atlas, 7 Sep. 2024 There’s no need to turn back the clock to the days of typewriters and slide rules, but our universities could benefit from prioritizing good old-fashioned interaction. Aden Barton, Washington Post, 9 July 2024 McNeil continued to yell at second base umpire Jonathan Parra while the Mets challenged the force out call for a slide rule violation. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 29 Mar. 2024 As typewriters once symbolized the writer, slide rules symbolized the engineer. Alex Traub, New York Times, 10 Feb. 2024 See all Example Sentences for slide rule 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slide rule.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1663, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slide rule was in 1663

Dictionary Entries Near slide rule

Cite this Entry

“Slide rule.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slide%20rule. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

slide rule

noun
: an instrument used for calculation that in its simple form consists of a ruler with a movable middle piece

More from Merriam-Webster on slide rule

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!