slope

1. An area of ground that tends evenly upward or downward.

   I had to climb a small slope to get to the site.

2. The degree to which a surface tends upward or downward.

   The road has a very sharp downward slope at that point.

3. The ratio of the vertical and horizontal distances between two points on a line; zero if the line is horizontal, undefined if it is vertical.

   The slope of this line is 0.5

4. The slope of the line tangent to a curve at a given point.

   The slope of a parabola increases linearly with x.

5. The angle a roof surface makes with the horizontal, expressed as a ratio of the units of vertical rise to the units of horizontal length (sometimes referred to as run).

   The slope of an asphalt shingle roof system should be 4:12 or greater.

6. A person of Chinese or other East Asian descent.

1. To tend steadily upward or downward.

   The road slopes sharply down at that point.

2. To form with a slope; to give an oblique or slanting direction to; to incline or slant.

   to slope the ground in a garden;   to slope a piece of cloth in cutting a garment

3. (usually followed by a preposition) To try to move surreptitiously.

   I sloped in through the back door, hoping my boss wouldn't see me.

4. To hold a rifle at a slope with forearm perpendicular to the body in front holding the butt, the rifle resting on the shoulder.

   The order was given to "slope arms".

adjective

Sloping.

adverb

Slopingly