slide rule

noun

Definition of slide rule

: a manual device used for calculation that consists in its simple form of a ruler and a movable middle piece which are graduated with similar logarithmic scales

Examples of slide rule in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Sporting a gray double-breasted suit, slicked-back curls and a slide rule, rocket engineer Wernher von Braun cuts a suave, authoritative figure in Disney’s 1955 television special Man and the Moon. Alejandro De La Garza, Time, "How Historians Are Reckoning With the Former Nazi Who Launched America's Space Program," 18 July 2019 Breitling Navitimer 1 Automatic 41 The Breitling Navitimer watch family gets an elegant addition with this stainless steel and alligator strap variation, featuring stylish details including a circular slide rule and beaded bezel. ... Alexander Fisher, WSJ, "Baselworld Report: Our 10 Favorite Watches," 26 Mar. 2019 Architects have ditched their slide rules for computer software, but big buildings don’t get constructed without them. Liz Hoffman And Telis Demos, WSJ, "Wall Street Erases the Line Between Its Jocks and Nerds," 18 Aug. 2018 Malcolm Sayer at Jaguar was a pioneer here, applying his slide rule to the design of the Jaguar C-Type in order to win Le Mans in 1951 and then again in 1953. Jonathan M. Gitlin, Ars Technica, "How a day driving high-downforce cars at VIR taught me I’m OK being slow," 11 Sep. 2018 The basic office gym—with a handful of treadmills and weight equipment—also is going the way of the slide rule. Keiko Morris, WSJ, "Amenity-Laden Buildings Are Suburban Landlords’ Latest Tool to Attract Tenants," 10 June 2018 In a twist of irony, Simmons was actually determined to have violated the slide rule in the fourth inning as Odor tried to turn a double play. Jeff Wilson, star-telegram, "Rangers Reaction: The flawed thinking of those miffed by Banister's comments," 3 June 2018 One indication of that passion is a giant slide rule hanging on a stair wall on the first floor of his trinity. Sally Friedman, Philly.com, "In South Philly, a depository for a lifetime of collecting," 25 Apr. 2018 Interference for the purpose of breaking up a double play (force play slide rule): Runners sliding into the base and deviating from their slide path to force fielders to make difficult throws to complete double plays. Ron Higgins, NOLA.com, "SEC baseball adds 6 instant replay reviewable challenges for its coaches," 16 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'slide rule.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of slide rule

1663, in the meaning defined above

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More Definitions for slide rule

slide rule

noun

English Language Learners Definition of slide rule

: an old-fashioned instrument that is like a ruler with a middle piece that slides back and forth and that is used to do calculations