SLUR (slurred, slurring)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: slurred    , slurring   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does slur mean? 

• SLUR (noun)
  The noun SLUR has 3 senses:

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

2. a disparaging remark

3. a blemish made by dirt

  Familiarity information: SLUR used as a noun is uncommon.

• SLUR (verb)
  The verb SLUR has 4 senses:

1. play smoothly or legato

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

3. utter indistinctly

4. become vague or indistinct

  Familiarity information: SLUR used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SLUR (noun)

Sense 1

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A disparaging remark

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

aspersion; slur

Context example:

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

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:

A blemish made by dirt

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

he had a smudge on his cheek

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)

• SLUR (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they slur    ... he / she / it slurs   
Past simple: slurred   
Past participle: slurred   
-ing form: slurring   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Play smoothly or legato

Classified under:

Verbs of sewing, baking, painting, performing

Context example:

the pianist slurred the most beautiful passage in the sonata

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Context example:

your comments are slurring your co-workers

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 3

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 4

Meaning:

Become vague or indistinct

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

blur; dim; slur

Context example:

The distinction between the two theories blurred

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)

 Context examples 

Slow and slurred speech resulting from inability to coordinate the muscles that are used in speech.

(Dysarthria, NCI Thesaurus)

A disorder characterized by slow and slurred speech resulting from an inability to coordinate the muscles used in speech.

(Dysarthria, NCI Thesaurus/CTCAE)

“Nay, it would ill become me to cast a slur upon a lady who is both my guest and the wife of my comrade-in-arms,” said the Seneschal of Villefranche.

(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Exposure to this substance causes neurological symptoms, such as tremors and slurred speech.

(Chlordecone, NCI Thesaurus)

An electrocardiographic finding of initial slurring (delta wave) of the QRS complex due to the presence of an accessory pathway.

(Delta Wave by ECG Finding, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)

Symptoms include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness.

(Botulism, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

When he grew excited or enthusiastic, however, he dropped back into the old slurring and the dropping of final consonants.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

He was challenging my manhood with his slurs, challenging the very legs he claimed to be instrumental in getting for me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

You slur over work of the utmost finesse and delicacy, in order to dwell upon sensational details which may excite, but cannot possibly instruct, the reader.

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

Now, you remark in this note of yours, Mr. Windibank, that in every case there is some little slurring over of the ‘e,’ and a slight defect in the tail of the ‘r.’ There are fourteen other characteristics, but those are the more obvious.

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