slur (slɜː
)
Definitions
verb
Word forms: slurs, slurring, slurred
(mainly tr) - (often foll by over) to treat superficially, hastily, or without due deliberation; gloss
- (also intr) to pronounce or utter (words, etc) indistinctly
- to speak disparagingly of or cast aspersions on
- music to execute (a melodic interval of two or more notes) smoothly, as in legato performance
- (also intr) to blur or smear
- archaic to stain or smear; sully
noun
- an indistinct sound or utterance
- a slighting remark; aspersion
- a stain or disgrace, as upon one's reputation; stigma
- music
- a performance or execution of a melodic interval of two or more notes in a part
- the curved line (⌢ or ⌣) indicating this
- a blur or smear
Word Origin
C15: probably from Middle Low German; compare Middle Low German slūren to drag, trail, Middle Dutch sloren, Dutch sleurenUsage examples
He resented the slur on his professionalism, even though the Governor hadn't seemed too worried.
, Death Speaks Softly (1987)Her slur on Panton was particularly crass, while her apparent ignorance of his position as a government consultant is breathtakingly stupid.
Spiked (2003)As well as an outrageous slur on the woman he has routinely called "my great love".
New Zealand Herald (2003)`Ideally, I'd love to be a singer there," he says in a Liverpudlian slur.
Independent (1999)`Look, everybody," she announced with a slur , `it's Telly Savalas!
, Yul (1989)