slip1

Syllabification: (slip)

Pronunciation: /slip/

Definition of slip

1 [no object] (of a person or animal) slide unintentionally for a short distance, typically losing one’s balance or footing:I slipped on the ice he kept slipping in the mud
[with adverbial of direction] (of a thing) accidentally slide or move out of position or from someone’s grasp:the envelope slipped through Luke’s fingers a wisp of hair had slipped down over her face
fail to grip or make proper contact with a surface:the front wheels began to slip (as adjective slipping)a badly slipping clutch
[with adverbial of direction] go or move quietly or quickly, without attracting notice:we slipped out by a back door
pass or change to a lower, worse, or different condition, typically in a gradual or imperceptible way:many people feel standards have slipped [with complement]:profits slipped 31 percent
(be slipping) informal be behaving in a way that is not up to one’s usual level of performance:you’re slipping, Joe—you need a vacation
(slip away/by) (of time) elapse:the night was slipping away
[with object] put (something) in a particular place or position quietly, quickly, or stealthily:she slipped the map into her pocket [with two objects]:I slipped him a ten-spot to keep quiet
(slip into/out of) put on or take off (a garment) quickly and easily.
(slip something in) insert a remark smoothly or adroitly into a conversation.

2 [with object] escape or get loose from (a means of restraint):the giant balloon slipped its moorings
[no object] (slip out) (of a remark) be uttered inadvertently.
(of a thought or fact) fail to be remembered by (one’s mind or memory); elude (one’s notice):a beautiful woman’s address was never likely to slip his mind
release (an animal, typically a hunting dog) from restraint.
Knitting move (a stitch) to the other needle without knitting it.
release (the clutch of a motor vehicle) slightly or for a moment.
(of an animal) produce (dead young) prematurely; abort.

1an act of sliding unintentionally for a short distance:a single slip could send them plummeting down the mountainside
a fall to a lower level or standard:a continued slip in house prices
relative movement of an object or surface and a solid surface in contact with it.
a reduction in the movement of a pulley or other mechanism due to slipping of the belt, rope, etc..
a sideways movement of an aircraft in flight, typically downward toward the center of curvature of a turn.
Geology the extent of relative horizontal displacement of corresponding points on either side of a fault plane.

3a woman’s loose-fitting, dress- or skirt-length undergarment, suspended by shoulder straps ( full slip) or by an elasticized waistband ( half slip):a silk slip

4a slope built leading into water, used for launching and landing boats and ships or for building and repairing them.
a space in which to dock a boat or ship, especially between two wharves or piers.

6 Knittingshort for slip stitch.one color at a time should be knitted in striped slip

Phrases

give someone the slip: informal evade or escape from someone.
let something slip
let something slip through one's fingers (or grasp): lose hold or possession of something.
slip of the pen (or the tongue): a minor mistake in writing (or speech).
there's many a slip 'twixt cup and lip: proverb many things can go wrong between the start of a project and its completion; nothing is certain until it has happened.

slip away: depart without saying goodbye; leave quietly or surreptitiously.; slowly disappear; recede or dwindle:his ability to concentrate is slipping away; die peacefully (used euphemistically):he lay there and quietly slipped away
slip something over on: informal take advantage of (someone) by trickery.
slip up: informal make a careless error:they often slipped up when it came to spelling

Middle English (in the sense 'move quickly and softly'): probably from Middle Low German slippen (verb); compare with slippery

Definition of slip in the British & World English dictionary