slope

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 [C] a surface or piece of land that slopes (= is higher at one end than the other): a grassy / wooded slope * The town is built on a slope. 2 [C,usually pl.] an area of land that is part of a mountain or hill: the eastern slopes of the Andes * ski slopes * He spends all winter on the slopes (= skiing). 3 [sing.,U] the amount by which sth slopes: a gentle / steep slope * a slope of 45 degrees * the angle of slope * Because of the slope of the roof, the snow cannot accumulate. IDIOMS see SLIPPERY verb [V] 1 [usually +adv./prep.] (of a horizontal surface) to be at an angle so that it is higher at one end than the other: The garden slopes away towards the river. * The path sloped gently down. * sloping shoulders 2 [usually +adv./prep.] (of sth vertical) to be at an angle rather than being straight or upright: His handwriting slopes backwards. * It was a very old house with sloping walls. 3 [V+adv./prep.] (BrE, informal) to go somewhere quietly, especially in order to avoid sth/sb: They got bored waiting for him and sloped off.