WordGarden.ioslush
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /slˈʌʃ/
US
- /ˈsləʃ/
Meanings
Noun
partly melted snow or ice in a wet dirty mixture
a semi-frozen flavored drink
(informal)overly sentimental or low-quality writing or talk
Verb
to splash or move through wet slush
Beyond the definition
Imagine the first warm day after a snowfall: that wet, icy mess under your boots is slush. It is partly melted snow, often mixed with water and dirt, and you see it on roads, sidewalks, and paths when the weather starts to warm up. The word also appears in phrases like "slush fund," meaning money kept for secret or unofficial use, and "slush pile," the stack of unwanted or unread writing sent to a publisher.
Slush is a semi-frozen mixture of water and snow. It forms when the temperature hovers around the freezing point, causing snow to partially melt but not fully turn into liquid. You'll often encounter it on roads and sidewalks, where it becomes a dirty, slippery hazard for drivers and pedestrians alike. The word evokes a distinct feeling of dampness and cold; think of the squelching, sucking sound your boots make as you step through a deep puddle of it.
Beyond the streets, "slush" also appears in a few set phrases. In business or politics, a "slush fund" is money kept aside for secret or unofficial use, often in a dishonest way. In publishing, a "slush pile" is the large stack of unsolicited manuscripts waiting to be read. In some contexts, "slush" can also mean soft, sentimental writing or talk, though that use is less common today. Whether you are stepping through melting snow or hearing one of these fixed expressions, the word usually carries the idea of something wet, messy, loose, or not handled openly.
Examples
- 1
Melting snow
By afternoon, the snow on the sidewalks had turned to gray slush.
- 2
Winter travel
We had to walk through icy slush to get to the bus stop.
- 3
Frozen drink
The kids bought a cherry slush after the game.
- 4
Secret money
The minister denied keeping a slush fund for private expenses.
- Phraseslush fund
money kept for secret or dishonest use
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- slushnounverb
Forms
- slushedpast tenseverbnoun
- slushesverbnoun
- slushing-ing formverbnoun