Slope
/sloʊp/
nounverbA2
Definition
A slope is the side of a hill or any surface that is not flat but goes up or down. It can be gentle or steep. As a verb, "to slope" means to lean or move in a slanting way.
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See It in Action
A surface or land that goes up or down at an angle
- •The slope of the hill was too steep to climb easily.
- •We sat on the grassy slope and watched the sunset.
- •The road has a gentle slope going down to the river.
To lean or move in a slanting way (verb)
- •The roof slopes to the left to help rainwater flow off.
- •His shoulders sloped forward because he was tired.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "slope" like "hill," but smaller and more about the angle than the whole hill.
- ✓Picture a slide at a playground that goes down from high to low—that is a slope.
- ✓It feels like when you walk uphill and your legs work harder because the ground isn’t flat.
- ✓Sounds like "slope" → imagine sliding slowly down a slippery slope of snow.
- ✓Remember the phrase "slopes of a mountain," which means the sides going up or down.
- ✓NOT like "flat" (level and even), slope is always tilted.
- ✓NOT like "step" (flat surface you walk on), slope is a smooth, angled surface.
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "stand straight," slope means to lean or move at an angle.
Try Other Words
- •Incline: a surface that goes up or down (Use when talking about a gentle or controlled angle, often in engineering or walking)
- •Gradient: the degree of slope or steepness (Use when measuring how steep something is)
- •Hill: a small raised area of land (Use when the focus is on the landform, not just the angle)
- •Lean: to move or be at an angle (Use when describing a person or object tilting)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: root word "slope" (no prefix or suffix)
- •Etymology: Comes from Old English "slōp" or Old Norse "sloppr," meaning a slant or incline
- •Historical development: Used since old times to describe land or surfaces that are not flat
- •Modern usage: Commonly used in geography, construction, and everyday speech to describe angled surfaces or movement
Reflect & Connect
•How do slopes affect the way people build houses or roads in hilly areas?
•Can you think of a time when walking on a slope was easier or harder than walking on flat ground?
Fill in the blanks
1.The slope of the mountain was so ___ that we needed special shoes to climb it.
2.When it rains, water runs down the slope ___, not standing still.
3.A roof usually slopes ___ to let rainwater flow off easily.
4.His shoulders sloped ___ because he was tired from working all day.
5.The path had a gentle slope ___ the river, making the walk pleasant.
6.Unlike flat land, a slope always goes ___ or ___ at an angle.
7.Builders check the slope ___ to make sure the ground is safe to build on.