slur
/slɜː(r)/ (bre, ipa) · /slɜːr/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈslər/ (ame, mw) · /slɜːr/ (bre, ipa) · /slɝː/ (ame, ipa)
slur — verb
- slurpresent simple I / you / we / they
- slurshe / she / it
- slurredpast simple
- slurring-ing form
1. to say words in a sloppy way, where the sounds blur together and become hard to
to say words in a sloppy way, where the sounds blur together and become hard to follow, often because you are very tired or have drunk too much.
Darius was so exhausted that he began to slur his words during the late meeting.
slur + words: speech becomes unclear from tiredness
After three glasses of wine, Tamar slurred her sentences and kept losing track.
common cause: drunkenness
The painkillers made the patient slur badly, so the nurse leaned in to listen.
Arjun often slurs the ends of his words when he speaks too fast.
Half-asleep at the wheel, Indra started to slur and could barely answer the police officer.
- enunciate
pronounce each sound clearly and carefully
文法句型
slur + words
slur + speech
用法筆記
Often paired with a cause clause (because tired, drunk, or unwell). Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about messy, unwanted speech, while sense 2 is a deliberate, smooth musical effect.
常見錯誤
2. to perform a group of musical notes with the voice or an instrument so that each
to perform a group of musical notes with the voice or an instrument so that each note glides into the next without any break.
The violin teacher asked Sayaka to slur the first four notes into one smooth line.
slur + notes: connect notes without a break
Élise leaned into the microphone and slurred the chorus so the melody sounded gentle and unbroken.
Christopher slurred the rising notes on his trumpet, gliding from one pitch to the next.
The pianist was told to slur these two bars rather than strike each key sharply.
- legato
the musical instruction to play smoothly and connectedly
- staccato
play notes sharply and separately, with clear gaps
文法句型
slur + notes
用法筆記
Object is a group of musical notes, a phrase, or bars. Distinguish from sense 1: here the smooth running-together is intentional and skilled, not careless.
3. to damage how people think of a person by saying unfair or untrue things that pu
to damage how people think of a person by saying unfair or untrue things that put them in a bad light.
The rival candidate tried to slur Tunde with rumours about money he never took.
slur + someone: damage reputation with false claims
Rodrigo printed a story that slurred the mayor without a shred of proof, and was sued.
object is a person whose reputation is attacked
Mira felt the article slurred her late father, so she demanded a public apology.
Spreading that lie was a deliberate attempt to slur the new manager before the vote.
The losing team accused the coach of slurring their captain in the press.
- praise
say good things that raise someone's reputation
文法句型
slur + someone
用法筆記
Object is the person whose good name is attacked, not the false claim itself. Distinguish from 'insult', which can be a momentary rudeness; slurring aims at lasting reputation damage.
常見錯誤
slur — noun
- slursingular
- slursplural
1. an unkind comment about a person that is meant to hurt how others see them and l
an unkind comment about a person that is meant to hurt how others see them and leave a lasting mark on their good name.
Calling the mayor lazy in the paper was a clear slur on her good name.
a slur on + someone: damaging comment
Rin refused to repeat the slur that the singer had stolen all her songs.
The lawyer argued that the blog post was a slur designed to ruin his client.
A single bitter slur from Harper's old business partner stuck in people's minds for years.
- compliment
a kind remark that praises someone
文法句型
a slur on + someone
用法筆記
Frequently followed by 'on' plus the target (a slur on her honour). Distinguish from sense 2: this is any reputation-harming remark, while sense 2 is a fixed offensive label aimed at a group.
2. a hurtful word used to attack a person for belonging to a particular race, relig
a hurtful word used to attack a person for belonging to a particular race, religion, or other group.
The football club banned any fan caught shouting a racial slur at the players.
racial slur: offensive group-targeting word
Teachers told the class that ethnic slurs hurt people and have no place at school.
ethnic slur collocation
The actor apologised after using a homophobic slur during a live broadcast.
A moderator deleted Minh's comment within seconds because it hurled a slur at another user.
- epithet
an offensive label attached to a person or group
文法句型
a racial / ethnic slur
用法筆記
Almost always pre-modified by the group it targets (racial, ethnic, homophobic). Distinguish from sense 1: a slur here is a fixed offensive word, not a one-off critical remark about an individual.
3. speech whose sounds come out blurred and uncontrolled, with the words seeming to
speech whose sounds come out blurred and uncontrolled, with the words seeming to fall into one another.
There was a slight slur in Faisal's speech after the dentist froze half his mouth.
a slur in one's speech: unclear sounds
The doctor noticed a new slur in the patient's voice and ordered a brain scan.
medical warning sign
Tiredness gave the pilot's radio calls a heavy slur that ground staff struggled to read.
By the end of the long shift, a tired slur had crept into the announcer's voice.
- mumble
quiet, unclear speech with little mouth movement
文法句型
a slur in one's speech
用法筆記
Often a sign of tiredness, illness, or drink. Distinguish from senses 1 and 2: this slur is about the SOUND of speech, not a hostile remark or label.
4. a curved line drawn above or below a group of written notes, telling the player
a curved line drawn above or below a group of written notes, telling the player to join them into one smooth, unbroken sound.
The teacher drew a slur above the three notes to show they should flow together.
a slur over the notes: smooth-connection mark
Beginners often miss the slur on the page and play each note separately.
contrast with separate, detached playing
A slur in the sheet music told the cellist to glide gently between the notes.
The composer added a long slur under the final phrase for a soft, flowing ending.
- tie
a similar curved line, but joining notes of the same pitch into one held sound
文法句型
a slur over / under the notes
用法筆記
A printed symbol on a musical score, not a sound. Distinguish from sense 3: that slur is heard speech; this slur is a written curved line on the page.