slew

UK: /ˈsluː/ US: /slu/ ,(slo̅o̅)

From the verb slay: (⇒ conjugate)

slew is: ⓘ

v past

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

slew¹ /slu/   v. 

1. pt. of slay.

slew² /slu/   n. [countable] [Informal.]

1. a large number or quantity:
   A whole slew of people showed up.

slew³ /slu/  v. [no object]

1. to slide, skid, or turn very suddenly:
   The car slewed across the road.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

slew¹  (slo̅o̅), v. 

1. pt. of slay. 

slew²  (slo̅o̅), n. [Informal.]

1. a large number or quantity:
   a whole slew of people.

Also, slue. 

• Irish sluagh crowd, throng, army, host
• 1830–40, American.

slew³  (slo̅o̅), v.t., v.i., n. 

1. Naval Terms slue¹.

slew⁴  (slo̅o̅), n. [U.S.,] Canadian.

1. British Terms slough¹ (def. 3).

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

slew / sluː/ verb

1. the past tense of slay

slew, slue / sluː/ verb

1. to twist or be twisted sideways, esp awkwardly
2. to cause (a mast) to rotate in its step or (of a mast) to rotate in its step

noun

1. the act of slewing

Etymology: 18th Century: of unknown origin

slew / sluː/ noun

1. a variant spelling (esp US) of slough12

slew, slue / sluː/ noun

1. a great number or amount; a lot

Etymology: 20th Century: from Irish Gaelic sluagh; related to Old Irish slōg army

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

slay /sleɪ/   v. [~ + object] , slew/slu/  slain/sleɪn/  slay•ing. 

1. to kill by violence:
   to slay the enemy.
2. Informal Terms [Slang.] to impress strongly;
   overwhelm, esp. by humor:
   Your jokes slay me.

slay•er, n. [countable]

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

slue¹ or slew /slu/   v., slued, slu•ing, n. 
v. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms to turn or swing around, such as a mast on its own axis: [no object]
   to slue sharply around.
   [~ + object]
   to slue the mast sharply around.

n. [countable]

2. Nautical, Naval Terms the act of sluing.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

slay  (slā), v., slew, slain, slay•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to kill by violence.
2. to destroy;
   extinguish.
3. sley.
4. Informal Terms to impress strongly;
   overwhelm, esp. by humor:
   Your jokes slay me.
5. [Obs.] to strike.

v.i. 

6. to kill or murder.

n. 

7. sley.

• bef. 900; Middle English sleen, slayn, Old English slēan; cognate with Dutch slaan, German schlagen, Old Norse slā, Gothic slahan to strike, beat

slay′a•ble, adj. 
slay′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. murder, slaughter, massacre, butcher, assassinate.
• 2. annihilate, ruin.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

slue¹  (slo̅o̅), v., slued, slu•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. Nautical, Naval Terms to turn (a mast or other spar) around on its own axis, or without removing it from its place.
2. Naval Terms to swing around.

v.i. 

3. Naval Terms to turn about;
   swing around.

n. 

4. Nautical, Naval Terms the act of sluing.
5. Nautical, Naval Terms a position slued to.

Also, slew. 

• origin, originally uncertain 1760–70

slue²  (slo̅o̅), n. [Informal.]

1. Informal Terms slew².

slue³  (slo̅o̅), n. 

1. slough¹ (def. 3).

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

slay / sleɪ/ verb (slays, slaying, slew, slain)(transitive)

1. to kill, esp violently
2. (also intr) to impress or amuse greatly

Etymology: Old English slēan; related to Old Norse slā, Gothic, Old High German slahan to strike, Old Irish slacaim I beat

ˈslayer noun