Definition

1. Noun:

   • A strong, sweeping cut made with a sharp instrument: A deep, long cut, often made with a forceful, diagonal motion.
   • A punctuation mark (/): A symbol used to separate related items, indicate alternatives, or represent division.
   • An open tract of land in a forest strewn with debris: A cleared area in woodland, often littered with branches and tree remains from logging or natural events.
   • A wound made by cutting: A gash or laceration.

2. Verb:

   • To cut with a sweeping, violent stroke: To make a long, deep cut with a sharp object using a forceful, often diagonal, motion.
   • To cut drastically or reduce severely: To lower something, especially prices or costs, by a large amount.
   • To criticize or attack harshly: To subject someone or something to severe verbal criticism.
   • To move or stir about violently: To thrash or flail around energetically.

Usage Examples

• Noun:

  • The sword left a deep slash across the shield.
  • Use a slash to separate the day, month, and year (e.g., 01/01/2024).
  • The forest fire left a barren slash covered in ash.

• Verb:

  • The vandal tried to slash the painting with a knife.
  • The store slashed all prices by 50% for the clearance sale.
  • The critic slashed the director's new film in her review.

Advanced Usage

• "To slash and burn": A method of agriculture or warfare involving cutting down and burning vegetation. Figuratively, it can mean to make drastic, destructive changes.

  • The company's new CEO adopted a slash-and-burn approach to restructuring.

• "Slash fiction": A genre of fan fiction focusing on romantic or sexual relationships between same-sex characters, typically male, from existing media. The name derives from the punctuation mark (/) used between character names (e.g., Kirk/Spock).

Variants and Related Words

• Slashy (adj., informal): Resembling or characterized by slashing motions or cuts.
• Backslash (n): The punctuation mark (\), distinct from the forward slash (/).

Synonyms

• Noun (cut): Gash, laceration, incision.
• Verb (cut): Gash, slit, lacerate.
• Verb (reduce): Slash, cut, reduce, drastically lower.
• Verb (criticize): Lambaste, pillory, savage.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Slash at: To aim a cutting blow at something.
  • He slashed at the ropes with his pocketknife to free himself.

Related Idioms

• "Slash one's wrists": Literally, to cut one's own wrists. Figuratively, it can be used hyperbolically to express extreme regret or a self-destructive action.
  • (Figurative) Agreeing to that deal without reading the fine print would be like slashing my own wrists.

Noun

1. a strong sweeping cut made with a sharp instrument
2. a punctuation mark (/) used to separate related items of information
3. an open tract of land in a forest that is strewn with debris from logging (or fire or wind)
4. a wound made by cutting
   • he put a bandage over the cut

Verb

1. move or stir about violently
   • The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed
2. cut drastically
   • Prices were slashed
3. cut open
   • she slashed her wrists
4. beat severely with a whip or rod
   • The teacher often flogged the students
   • The children were severely trounced
5. cut with sweeping strokes; as with an ax or machete