slider

IPA/ˈslaɪdə(r)/
KK[slˈaɪdɚ]IPA/ˈslaɪdər/

slider — noun

  • slidersingular
  • slidersplural

1. a component on a piece of equipment or on a computer screen that you slide in di

1.nounB1
Definition

a component on a piece of equipment or on a computer screen that you slide in different directions to adjust a value — for instance, making music play louder or a screen look brighter.

Example

Tara moved the volume slider on her phone to make the music quieter.

collocation: move a slider

The brightness slider on this laptop is at the top-right corner of the keyboard.

collocation: brightness slider

Common collocations
  • move a slider
  • adjust a slider
  • drag a slider
  • volume slider
  • brightness slider
  • touchscreen slider
Synonyms
  • fader

    A fader is a specific type of slider used for audio mixing, often vertical.

  • control

    More general term; 'slider' specifies the sliding mechanism.

Usage Note

Common in user-interface descriptions and audio/video equipment manuals.

Common Mistakes

I pulled the slider on my phone.
I moved the slider on my phone.
'pull' suggests a physical tug; electronic sliders are tapped, dragged, or moved.

2. an open summer sandal that covers only the front part of your foot with a wide s

2.nounA2
Definition

an open summer sandal that covers only the front part of your foot with a wide strap, leaving the back of your foot uncovered so you can step into it without bending down.

Example

Adina wore rubber sliders to the beach so she could take them off quickly.

collocation: rubber sliders

The hotel gave each guest a pair of white cotton sliders for the pool area.

Common collocations
  • wear sliders
  • rubber sliders
  • leather sliders
  • pool sliders
  • beach sliders
Synonyms
  • slide

    Shorter, more common name for the same type of sandal.

  • flip-flop

    Flip-flops have a strap between the toes; sliders have a wide band across the top of the foot.

Usage Note

Often used in the plural ('sliders') to refer to a pair of these shoes, like 'flip-flops' or 'sandals'.

Common Mistakes

I put on my slider to go out.
I put on my sliders to go out.
'sliders' is typically plural when referring to a pair of shoes.

3. a small sandwich or tiny hamburger, usually served in a soft bread roll, eaten a

3.nounB1
Definition

a small sandwich or tiny hamburger, usually served in a soft bread roll, eaten as a light snack or as a starter before a main meal.

Example

The bar served mini pulled-pork sliders with a tangy coleslaw topping.

Mizuki ordered three sliders — one beef, one chicken, and one with grilled vegetables.

slider + flavour specification

Common collocations
  • order sliders
  • serve sliders
  • beef slider
  • chicken slider
  • pulled-pork slider
Synonyms
  • mini-burger

    Refers specifically to a small hamburger; 'slider' covers any small sandwich.

  • finger sandwich

    A thin, crustless English tea sandwich, which is a different type of small sandwich.

Usage Note

Most common in American English restaurant and party menus. Each slider is typically 8–10 cm across.

Common Mistakes

I made a slider for my lunch using two normal slices of bread.
I made a slider using small dinner rolls.
Sliders are made with small soft rolls, not full-size bread slices.

4. in baseball, a type of fast throw that curves slightly sideways as it approaches

4.nounB2
Definition

in baseball, a type of fast throw that curves slightly sideways as it approaches the batter, making it harder to hit than a straight fastball.

Example

Lara struck out the batter with a sharp slider that broke low and away.

slider + break + location pattern

The pitcher's slider was so effective that the other team barely touched the ball.

Common collocations
  • throw a slider
  • pitch a slider
  • a slider breaks
  • sharp slider
  • slider movement
Synonyms
  • breaking ball

    A general category that includes sliders, curveballs, and other pitches with movement.

Antonyms
  • fastball

    A straight pitch thrown at maximum speed without sideways movement.

Usage Note

Baseball-specific term. A slider is faster than a curveball but has less sideways movement.

Common Mistakes

The pitcher threw a slider that went straight down.
The pitcher threw a slider that broke sideways.
A slider moves laterally (side to side), not straight down.

5. a medium-sized turtle that lives in rivers, lakes, and ponds, native to North an

5.nounB1
Definition

a medium-sized turtle that lives in rivers, lakes, and ponds, native to North and South America, often with red, orange, or yellow patches near its ears, and commonly sold as a pet.

Example

Zola keeps two red-eared sliders in a large glass tank with a heat lamp.

collocation: red-eared slider

Kian saw a slider basking on a log at the park pond.

slider + basking behaviour

Common collocations
  • red-eared slider
  • keep a slider
  • pet slider
  • slider turtle
Synonyms
  • red-eared slider

    The most common species of slider kept as a pet, named for the red markings on its head.

  • terrapin

    A broader term for small edible turtles; sliders are one type of terrapin.

Usage Note

The common pet species is the red-eared slider (Trachemys scripta elegans), named for the red stripe behind each eye. They need both water and a dry basking area.

Common Mistakes

A slider is a type of tortoise that lives in the desert.
A slider is a freshwater turtle that lives in rivers and lakes.
Tortoises are land animals; sliders are aquatic turtles.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/3

A 'slider' is a small sandwich served on a soft roll, most often a tiny hamburger. It differs from a 'mini-burger', which is always a beef patty in a small bun — sliders can also hold chicken, pork, or vegetables. 'Finger sandwiches' are thin, crustless sandwiches served at British-style tea parties, with fillings like cucumber or egg salad. 'Canapés' are bite-sized open-faced toppings on crackers or pastry rounds, served at cocktail parties. Unlike sliders, canapés are not a whole sandwich and do not come with bread on both sides. In American party menus, sliders are heartier and more filling than finger sandwiches or canapés.

slider ↗mini-burgerfinger sandwichcanapé

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

The word 'slider' comes from the verb 'slide' (from Old English 'slīdan', meaning 'to move smoothly across a surface') plus the suffix '-er', which forms nouns meaning 'a person or thing that does something'. So a 'slider' is literally 'something that slides'. The five modern meanings reflect this core idea: a control part that slides, a shoe that slips on easily, a small sandwich that was originally called a 'slider' because the greasy meat would slide right down your throat, a baseball pitch that slides sideways, and a turtle that slips off rocks into the water.

First known use

1530

1530, in the meaning defined at sense 1