Library / English Dictionary

SLUR

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

Irregular inflected forms: slurred    , slurring   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

A blemish made by dirt

Example:

he had a smudge on his cheek

Synonyms:

blot; daub; slur; smear; smirch; smudge; spot

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("slur" is a kind of...):

blemish; defect; mar (a mark or flaw that spoils the appearance of something (especially on a person's body))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "slur"):

blotch; splodge; splotch (an irregularly shaped spot)

fingermark; fingerprint (a smudge made by a (dirty) finger)

inkblot (a blot made with ink)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A disparaging remark

Example:

it is difficult for a woman to understand a man's sensitivity to any slur on his virility

Synonyms:

aspersion; slur

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("slur" is a kind of...):

depreciation; derogation; disparagement (a communication that belittles somebody or something)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "slur"):

ethnic slur (a slur on someone's race or language)

Derivation:

slur (speak disparagingly of; e.g., make a racial slur)

Sense 3

Meaning:

(music) a curved line spanning notes that are to be played legato

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("slur" is a kind of...):

musical notation ((music) notation used by musicians)

Domain category:

music (an artistic form of auditory communication incorporating instrumental or vocal tones in a structured and continuous manner)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "slur"):

tie ((music) a slur over two notes of the same pitch; indicates that the note is to be sustained for their combined time value)

Derivation:

slur (play smoothly or legato)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Become vague or indistinct

Example:

The distinction between the two theories blurred

Synonyms:

blur; dim; slur

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "slur" is one way to...):

weaken (become weaker)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "slur"):

efface; obliterate (remove completely from recognition or memory)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Also:

slur over (treat hurriedly or avoid dealing with properly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Utter indistinctly

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "slur" is one way to...):

mouth; speak; talk; utter; verbalise; verbalize (express in speech)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Speak disparagingly of; e.g., make a racial slur

Example:

your comments are slurring your co-workers

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "slur" is one way to...):

denote; refer (have as a meaning)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

slur (a disparaging remark)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Play smoothly or legato

Example:

the pianist slurred the most beautiful passage in the sonata

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Hypernyms (to "slur" is one way to...):

play; spiel (replay (as a melody))

Domain category:

music (musical activity (singing or whistling etc.))

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sentence example:

They will slur the duet

Derivation:

slur ((music) a curved line spanning notes that are to be played legato)

Credits

 Context examples: 

I pass over the sort of slur conveyed in this suggestion on the character of my beloved; indeed, when you are far away, Janet, I'll try to forget it: I shall notice only its wisdom; which is such that I have made it my law of action.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

A large section of the audience expressed their indignation at such a slur upon the travelers by noisy shouts of dissent and cries of, 'Don't put it!' 'Withdraw!' 'Turn him out!'

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

But you hear, my lords of Gascony, that these gentlemen had no thought to throw a slur upon your honor or your valor, so let all anger fade from your mind.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“I know English, and I know what you mean, sir,” Johnson answered, his flush deepening at the slur on his knowledge of the English language.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

In each case, not only are the ‘e’s’ slurred and the ‘r’s’ tailless, but you will observe, if you care to use my magnifying lens, that the fourteen other characteristics to which I have alluded are there as well.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

And then you slur by dropping initial letters and diphthongs. 'T-h-e-m' spells 'them.' You pronounce it—oh, well, it is not necessary to go over all of them. What you need is the grammar.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

It is not needful that this priest should be called, and it is in my mind that in asking for this ye cast some slight shadow or slur upon the good name of my wife, as though it were still doubtful whether her power came to her from above or below.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)