slash Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a wound made by cutting
    gash; cut; slice.
    • he put a bandage over the cut
  2. noun an open tract of land in a forest that is strewn with debris from logging (or fire or wind)
  3. noun a punctuation mark (/) used to separate related items of information
    virgule; solidus; diagonal; separatrix; stroke.
  4. noun a strong sweeping cut made with a sharp instrument
    gash.
  5. verb cut with sweeping strokes; as with an ax or machete
    cut down.
  6. verb beat severely with a whip or rod
    trounce; strap; welt; whip; lash; flog; lather.
    • The teacher often flogged the students
    • The children were severely trounced
  7. verb cut open
    gash.
    • she slashed her wrists
  8. verb cut drastically
    • Prices were slashed
  9. verb move or stir about violently
    thresh about; thrash about; convulse; jactitate; thresh; toss; thrash.
    • The feverish patient thrashed around in his bed

WordNet

Slash transitive verb
Etymology
OE. slaschen, of uncertain origin; cf. OF. esclachier to break, esclechier, esclichier, to break, and E. slate, slice, slit, v. t.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Slashed ; present participle & verbal noun Slashing
Definitions
  1. To cut by striking violently and at random; to cut in long slits.
  2. To lash; to ply the whip to. R. King.
  3. To crack or snap, as a whip. R. Dr. H. More.
Slash intransitive verb
Definitions
  1. To strike violently and at random, esp. with an edged instrument; to lay about one indiscriminately with blows; to cut hastily and carelessly.
    Hewing and slashing at their idle shades. Spenser.
Slash noun
Definitions
  1. A long cut; a cut made at random.
  2. A large slit in the material of any garment, made to show the lining through the openings.
  3. Cf. Slashy. pl. Swampy or wet lands overgrown with bushes. Local, U.S. Bartlett.

Webster 1913