slang
Language outside of conventional usage and in the informal registerLanguage outside of conventional usage and in the informal register.
» The dispute escalated into a public slanging match.
Der Streit eskaliert zu einer öffentlichen Schlammschlacht.
Meaning
12 senses(countable, uncountable)Language outside of conventional usage and in the informal register.
(countable, uncountable)Language that is unique to a particular profession or subject; jargon.
Slang, Umgangssprache
сленгsleng, жарго́нžargón, арго́argó
a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves)
(countable, uncountable)The specialized language of a social group, sometimes used to conceal one's meaning from outsiders; cant.
(countable)A particular variety of slang; the slang used by a particular group.
(countable)An item of slang; a slang word or expression.
(India, countable)A curse word.
(UK, dialectal)Any long, narrow piece of land; a promontory.
(UK, obsolete)A fetter worn on the leg by a convict.
(UK, obsolete)A counterfeit weight or measure.
(UK, obsolete)A travelling show, or one of its performances.
(UK, obsolete)A hawker's license.
(UK, obsolete)A watchchain.
Examples
3 sentencesThe dispute escalated into a public slanging match.
deDer Streit eskaliert zu einer öffentlichen Schlammschlacht.
The dispute quickly turned into a public slanging match.
deDer Streit eskaliert zu einer öffentlichen Schlammschlacht.
It wasn't a political debate but a slanging match.
deDas war keine politische Debatte. Das war eine Schlammschlacht!
Translations
7 languagesBy meaning 1
By meaning 1
Origin
First use appears c. 1756, meaning "special vocabulary of tramps or thieves", origin unknoFirst use appears c. 1756, meaning "special vocabulary of tramps or thieves", origin unknown. Not believed to be connected with language or lingo.
Compare sling.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
plural: slangsSynonyms
8 synonyms- a characteristic language of a particular group (as among thieves):cantjargonlingoargotpatoisvernacular
- informal language consisting of words and expressions that are not considered appropriate for formal occasions; often vituperative or vulgar:slang expressionslang term
Word family
42 related wordsLessons for this word
1 lessons- A1Countable and uncountable nouns — Because it can be uncountable