slice
CommonNeutral
Definition
Meaning
A thin, flat piece cut from a larger object, especially food.
1) To cut something into thin, flat pieces. 2) A portion or share of something, such as time, money, or data. 3) (In sports) To hit a ball so it curves away (e.g., in golf or tennis).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The word primarily denotes a flat, cross-sectional piece created by a cutting action. It carries connotations of precision, division, and allocation. In computing, it refers to a segment of data.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar. In sports, 'slice' for a curving shot is common in both, but the specific context (e.g., table tennis vs. golf) may vary. The term 'fish slice' is a British English term for a kitchen spatula.
Connotations
Largely identical; neutral. 'A slice of the action' is a business idiom common in both.
Frequency
The noun and verb forms are of equal and high frequency in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
VERB + slice: 'slice the loaf'.VERB + OBJ + ADV/PREP: 'She sliced the onion thinly.' / 'He sliced through the rope.'slice + OBJ: 'The knife sliced his finger.' (agentive object)have/get a slice of + NOUN (abstract): 'We all want a slice of the profits.'Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A slice of the action (a share in an activity/profit)”
- “A slice of life (a realistic representation of everyday experience)”
- “Slice and dice (to analyse data or cut something in various ways)”
- “The greatest thing since sliced bread (a very useful modern invention)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to a share or portion of a market, budget, or revenue: 'Our company aims to capture a larger slice of the European market.'
Academic
Used in computing/data science ('array slice'), statistics ('slice of data'), and occasionally in literary/cultural studies ('a slice of life narrative').
Everyday
Predominantly culinary: cutting food; also used for sharing, e.g., 'Can I have a slice of your time?'
Technical
In computing/programming: a contiguous section of an array or data structure. In radar/tennis/golf: a specific type of curving shot or beam pattern.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Could you slice the cucumber for the salad, please?
- His drive sliced wildly into the rough.
American English
- Use the mandoline to slice the potatoes very thin.
- The quarterback's pass sliced through the defense.
adverb
British English
- The chef cut the salmon slice-fashion for the canapés.
- The ball moved slice-wise across the green.
American English
- He carved the turkey slice-style for maximum yield.
- The plane descended slice-ways through the clouds.
adjective
British English
- She bought a pre-sliced loaf for convenience.
- The new golf ball reduces slice spin.
American English
- Grab a bag of sliced almonds from the store.
- He has a chronic slice shot he's trying to fix.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I ate two slices of toast for breakfast.
- Be careful not to slice your finger!
- Could you slice the lemon into thin wedges for the drink?
- Each investor received a slice of the company's profits.
- The report offers a fascinating slice of life in Victorian London.
- Her backhand in tennis tends to slice, giving the ball a low bounce.
- The new algorithm allows us to slice the demographic data along multiple variables.
- His critique sliced through the pretences of the political establishment with surgical precision.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a knife cutting through a loaf of bread. The sound 'SLIce' mimics the smooth, sliding sound of the blade (the 'SL' sound) creating a piece of ICE (which is thin and flat like a slice).
Conceptual Metaphor
RESOURCES/TIME/OPPORTUNITIES ARE A CAKE: We 'get a slice', 'fight for a bigger slice', or 'slice up' the available resources.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque with 'кусок' (chunk/lump) when precision and flatness are key; 'ломтик' is more accurate for food.
- The verb 'to slice' implies a specific cutting action (резать тонкими ломтиками/пластами), not just general cutting ('резать' или 'разрезать').
- In sports/golf contexts, 'слайс' is a borrowed term, but its meaning might not be widely known to non-golfers.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'slice' for a random, non-flat piece (e.g., 'a slice of potato' is fine, but 'a slice of rock' is odd unless it's flat).
- Overusing the noun form and neglecting the common verb form: 'He cut the bread into slices' vs. the more direct 'He sliced the bread'.
- Confusing 'slice' with 'slit' (a long, narrow cut) or 'chip' (a small piece broken off).
Practice
Quiz
In a business context, 'securing a larger slice' typically means:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While its most common use is culinary, it is widely used for abstract 'portions' (a slice of luck, a slice of time) and has technical meanings in sports and computing.
'Slice' implies a flat piece, often created by cutting. 'Piece' is more general (a piece of paper, advice). 'Bit' is informal and usually suggests a small amount or piece.
Yes, intransitively, often with 'through' or in sports contexts: 'The knife sliced through the butter.' / 'His shot sliced to the left.'
It describes a realistic, often mundane representation of everyday experiences, focusing on naturalism rather than dramatic plot.