
a ball describing such a path.
Tennis. a stroke executed by hitting down on the ball with an underhand motion and thus creating backspin.
verb (used with object), sliced, slicing.
to cut into slices; divide into parts.
to cut through or cleave with or as if with a knife: The ship sliced the sea.
to cut off or remove as a slice or slices (sometimes followed by off, away, from, etc.).
to remove by means of a slice, slice bar, or similar implement.
Sports. to hit (a ball) so as to result in a slice.
verb (used without object), sliced, slicing.
to slice something.
to admit of being sliced.
(of a player) to slice the ball.
(of a ball) to describe a slice in flight.

1300–50; (noun) Middle English s(c)lice < Old French esclice, noun derivative of esclicer to split up < Frankish *slitjan, akin to Old English slītan, Old Norse slīta, Dutch slījten (see slit); (v.) late Middle English sklicen < Old French esclicer

sliceable, adjective
slicingly, adverb
preslice, verb (used with object), presliced, preslicing.
unsliced, adjective Unabridged
Cite This Source Link To slice
World English Dictionary
slice (slaɪs)
1.  a thin flat piece cut from something having bulk: a slice of pork
2.  a share or portion: a slice of the company's revenue
3.  any of various utensils having a broad flat blade and resembling a spatula
4.  in golf, tennis, etc
 a.  the flight of a ball that travels obliquely because it has been struck off centre
 b.  the action of hitting such a shot
 c.  the shot so hit
vb (when intr, usually foll by through) (when intr, foll by through) (usually foll by off, from, away, etc)
5.  to divide or cut (something) into parts or slices
6.  to cut in a clean and effortless manner
7.  to move or go (through something) like a knife: the ship sliced through the water
8.  to cut or be cut (from) a larger piece
9.  (tr) to remove by use of a slicing implement
10.  to hit (a ball) with a slice
11.  (tr) rowing to put the blade of the oar into (the water) slantwise
[C14: from Old French esclice a piece split off, from esclicier to splinter]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
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Word Origin & History

c.1300, "a fragment," from O.Fr. esclis "splinter," a back-formation from esclicier "to splinter," from Frank. *slitan "to split" (cf. O.H.G. slizan; see slit). Meaning "piece cut from something" emerged c.1420. Meaning "a slicing stroke" (in golf, tennis) is recorded from
1886. Slice of life (1895) translates Fr. tranche de la vie, a term from Fr. Naturalist literature.

c.1420, from from M.Fr. esclicier (see slice (n.)). Sliced bread introduced 1958; greatest thing since ... first attested 1969.
"No matter how thick or how thin you slice it it's still baloney." [Carl Sandburg, "The People, Yes," 1936]
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Idioms & Phrases


In addition to the subsequent idiom beginning with slice, also see greatest thing since sliced bread; no matter how you slice it.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of Idioms by Christine Ammer.
Copyright © 1997. Published by Houghton Mifflin.
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Example sentences for slice
Aptly named for its ability to slice completely through anything.
Image for slice
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