slide rule

noun

|Updated on: 18 Jun 2018

Definition of slide rule

: 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

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Recent Examples of slide rule from the Web

The basic office gym—with a handful of treadmills and weight equipment—also is going the way of the slide rule.

— keiko morris, WSJ, "Amenity-Laden Buildings Are Suburban Landlords’ Latest Tool to Attract Tenants," 10 June 2018
In a twist of irony, Simmons was actually determined to have violated the slide rule in the fourth inning as Odor tried to turn a double play.

— jeff wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: The flawed thinking of those miffed by Banister's comments," 3 June 2018
One indication of that passion is a giant slide rule hanging on a stair wall on the first floor of his trinity.

— sally friedman, Philly.com, "In South Philly, a depository for a lifetime of collecting," 25 Apr. 2018
Interference for the purpose of breaking up a double play (force play slide rule): Runners sliding into the base and deviating from their slide path to force fielders to make difficult throws to complete double plays.

— ron higgins, NOLA.com, "SEC baseball adds 6 instant replay reviewable challenges for its coaches," 16 Mar. 2018
Through the morning and early afternoon, wielding his slide rule, Fermi slowly took the pile critical, with a characteristically Fermian break for lunch.

— richard rhodes, New York Times, "A Remarkable Man Among Remarkable Men and Women," 24 Jan. 2018
Maddon was ejected in Game 1 at Dodger Stadium after a call at home plate was overturned because of the slide rule.

— USA TODAY, "Cubs' Maddon tossed again in NLCS; ump admits he missed call," 19 Oct. 2017
Hayward craves distraction and Smeathers engages all his debates, whether the subject is the NFL slide rule or a compound math problem.

— lee jenkins, SI.com, "The Immense Pride and Unspeakable Agony of Gordon Hayward," 20 Dec. 2017
When pocket calculators were developed in the early 1970s, their slide rule business got crushed by Texas Instruments and Hewlett Packard.

— neil santuria, sandiegouniontribune.com, "Faber-Castell story: Pencil company created a brand and knew what it stood for," 9 Oct. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'slide rule.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.