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# slur

noun (a slur, slurs); verb (slur, slurs, slurred, slurring)

«slur» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To slur means to speak words unclearly, so the sounds run together, for example when someone is very tired, ill or drunk. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#m1)
2. A slur is an insult or unkind remark that damages someone's reputation, as in «a slur on his good name». [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#m2)
3. A slur is a nasty, hurtful word used against a group of people, such as because of their race, religion or disability; using slurs is bullying and can be against the law. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#m3)
4. (music) A slur is a curved line over notes showing they should be played or sung smoothly together. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#m4)

### In the lessons

In health and safety lessons, slurred speech can be a warning sign of a stroke, so you should get help fast (call emergency services). In PSHE lessons, pupils learn that slurs hurt people and should be reported. In music lessons, a slur is a smooth curve over notes. Phrases: «slurred speech», «a racial slur», «a slur on someone's character».

### Examples

- His speech was slurred because he had just woken from the operation. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#x1)
- Using slurs about someone's race is never OK. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#x2)
- The newspaper's story was a slur on her good name. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#x3)
- Slurred speech can be a sign of a stroke, so call for help quickly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#x4)
- In music, play the notes under the slur smoothly. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#x5)
- The teacher told the class that slurs are a kind of bullying. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/#x6)

### Note

Verb doubles the r: slurred, slurring. Countable noun: a slur, slurs. Speaking unclearly from tiredness is not the same as using a slur (an insult); the meanings are very different.

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «slur» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/S/slur/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«slur» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/slur.html) on Mova free.