to move, flow, pass, or go smoothly or easily; glide; slide

Water slips off a smooth surface.

to slide suddenly or involuntarily; to lose one's foothold, as on a smooth surface

She slipped on the icy ground.

to move, slide, or start gradually from a place or position

His hat had slipped over his eyes.

to slide out of or become disengaged from a fastening, the grasp, etc.

The soap slipped from my hand.

to pass without having been acted upon or used; be lost; get away

to let an opportunity slip.

to pass from the mind, memory, or consciousness.

to elapse or pass quickly or imperceptibly (often fol. by away or by )

The years slipped by.

to become involved or absorbed easily

to slip into a new way of life.

to move or go quietly, cautiously, or unobtrusively

to slip out of a room.

to put on or take off a garment easily or quickly

She slipped on the new sweater. He slipped off his shoes.

to make a mistake or error

As far as I know, you haven't slipped once.

to fall below a standard or accustomed level, or to decrease in quantity or quality; decline; deteriorate

His work slipped last year.

to be said or revealed inadvertently (usually fol. by out )

The words just slipped out.

to read, study, consider, etc., without attention

He slipped over the most important part.

Aeronautics . (of an aircraft when excessively banked) to slide sideways, toward the center of the curve described in turning. Compare skid ( def. 15 ) .

to cause to move, pass, go, etc., with a smooth, easy, or sliding motion.

to put, place, pass, insert, or withdraw quickly or stealthily

to slip a letter into a person's hand.

to put on or take off (a garment) easily or quickly

He slipped the shirt over his head.

to let or make (something) slide out of a fastening, the hold, etc.

I slipped the lock, and the door creaked open.

to release from a leash, harness, etc., as a hound or a hawk.

to get away or free oneself from; escape (a pursuer, restraint, leash, etc.)

The cow slipped its halter.

to untie or undo (a knot).

Nautical . to let go entirely, as an anchor cable or an anchor.

to pass from or escape (one's memory, attention, knowledge, etc.).

to dislocate; put out of joint or position

I slipped a disk in my back.

to shed or cast

The rattlesnake slipped its skin.

to ignore, pass over, or omit, as in speaking or writing.

to let pass unheeded; neglect or miss.

Boxing . to evade or avoid (a blow) by moving or turning the body quickly

He slipped a right and countered with a hard left.

(of animals) to bring forth (offspring) prematurely.

British . to detach (a railway car) from a moving train as it passes through a station.

an act or instance of slipping.

a sudden losing of one's foothold, as on slippery ground.

a mistake in judgment; blunder.

a mistake or oversight, as in speaking or writing, esp. a small one due to carelessness

a minor slip in addition; a slip of the tongue.

an error in conduct; indiscretion.

something easily slipped on or off.

a decline or fall in quantity, quality, extent, etc., or from a standard or accustomed level

a slip in prices.

Clothing .

a woman's undergarment, sleeveless and usually having shoulder straps, extending from above the bust down to the hemline of the outer dress.

an underskirt, as a half-slip or petticoat.

a pillowcase.

an inclined plane, sloping to the water, on which vessels are built or repaired.

Nautical . the difference between the speed at which a screw propeller or paddle wheel would move if it were working against a solid and the actual speed at which it advances through the water.

a space between two wharves or in a dock for vessels to lie in.

Electricity . the difference between the synchronous and the operating speeds of a motor.

Machinery .

the difference between output speed and input or theoretical speed in certain fluid or electromagnetic devices, as couplings or motors.

(in pumps) the difference between the actual volume of water or other liquid delivered by a pump during one complete stroke and the theoretical volume as determined by calculation of the displacement.

unintended movement or play between mechanical parts or the like.

Cricket .

the position of a fielder who stands behind and to the offside of the wicketkeeper.

the fielder playing this position.

Geology .

the relative displacement of formerly adjacent points on opposite sides of a fault, measured along the fault plane.

a small fault.

Also called glide. Metallurgy . plastic deformation of one part of a metallic crystal relative to the other part due to shearing action. ?

slip away,

to depart quietly or unobtrusively; steal off.

to recede; slowly vanish

All those facts I had memorized just slipped away.

slip up, to make an error; fail

I slipped up and put the letter in the wrong envelope.

give someone the slip

to elude a pursuer; escape

The murderer gave the police the slip.

let slip

to reveal unintentionally

to let slip the truth.

slip a cog. cog 1 ( def. 6 ) .

slip between the cracks. crack ( def. 54 ) .

slip someone's mind

to be forgotten

I was supposed to phone, but it slipped my mind.

slip something over on, to deceive; defraud; trick. Also

slip one over on.

noun

correction , perfection , success

verb

correct , perfect

noun

blooper * , blunder , bungle , failure , fault , flub * , fluff * , foul-up * , gaff , howler , imprudence , indiscretion , lapse , misdeed , misstep , mistake , muff * , omission , oversight , screw-up , slip of the tongue * , slip-up * , trip , label , leaf , page , sheet , sliver , strip , tag , ticket , erratum , inaccuracy , incorrectness , miscue , slip-up

verb

drop , glissade , lose balance , lose footing , lurch , move , shift , skate , skid , slick , slide , slither , smooth along , totter , trip , blunder , drop the ball , flub * , fluff * , goof * , go wrong , make a mistake , miscalculate , misjudge , mistake , muff * , put foot in mouth , slip up , stumble , lapse , creep , glide , lurk , mouse , prowl , pussyfoot , skulk , slink , snake , steal , disengage , loose , loosen , unbind , unclasp , unfasten , unloose , unloosen , untie , elude , evade , shake off , throw off , abort , dislocate , throw out , drop off , fall off , sag , miscue , trip up , sink

phrasal verb

assume , get on , pull on , put on , slip on , slip into , miscue , mistake , slip , stumble , trip up