<p><strong>Verb (used with object)</strong></p><ul><li>to cut with a violent sweeping stroke or by striking violently and at random, as with a knife or sword</li><li>to lash; whip</li><li>to cut, reduce, or alter: The editors slashed the story to half its length</li><li>to make slits in (a garment) to show an underlying fabric</li><li>to criticize, censure, or attack in a savage or cutting manner</li></ul><p><strong>Verb (used without object)</strong></p><ul><li>to lay about one with sharp, sweeping strokes; make one's way by cutting</li><li>to make a sweeping, cutting stroke</li></ul><p><strong>Noun</strong></p><ul><li>a sweeping stroke, as with a knife, sword, or pen</li><li>a cut, wound, or mark made with such a stroke</li><li>a curtailment, reduction, or alteration: a drastic slash of prices</li><li>a decorative slit in a garment showing an underlying fabric</li><li>a short oblique stroke (/) between two words indicating that whichever is appropriate may be chosen to complete the sense of the text in which they occur; a virgule: you and/or your dependents</li><li>a dividing line, as in dates, fractions, a run-in passage of poetry to show verse division, etc.; a virgule: She got 3/4 of the answers correct.</li></ul>