slur / slər/ • v. (slurred, slur·ring) [tr.] 1. speak (words or speech) indistinctly so that the sounds run into one another: he was slurring his words like a drunk. ∎  [intr.] (of words or speech) be spoken in this way: his speech was beginning to slur. ∎  pass over (a fact or aspect) so as to conceal or minimize it: essential attributes are being slurred over or ignored.2. Mus. perform (a group of two or more notes) legato: [as adj.] (slurred) a group of slurred notes. ∎  mark (notes) with a slur.3. make damaging or insulting insinuations or allegations about: try and slur the integrity of the police to secure an acquittal.• n. 1. an insinuation or allegation about someone that is likely to insult them or damage their reputation: the comments were a slur on the staff a racial slur.2. an act of speaking indistinctly so that sounds or words run into one another or a tendency to speak in such a way: there was a mean slur in his voice.3. Mus. a curved line used to show that a group of two or more notes is to be sung to one syllable or played or sung legato.

slur. Curved line used in musical notation to group together notes. Most common indication is that notes concerned are to be played or sung smoothly (legato). For a str.-player, this signifies that the notes should be taken in one stroke of the bow, for a wind-player or singer that they should be taken in one breath. If notes within slur have dots above or below, this means they are to be played slightly detached. Slur also used in vocal mus. to indicate that one syllable is to be sung to several notes. See also tie and curved lines.

slur
A. (dial.) fluid mud XV (sloor, slore); gliding movement XVI; sliding mechanism XVIII;

B. deliberate slight XVII; (mus.) mark indicating a smooth connected passage XIX.
Hence slur vb. A. (dial.) stain, sully; disparage XVII; B. slide XVI; (mus.) XVIII. of uncert. orig.; partly corr. forms are (M)Du. sloor sluttish woman, LG. slurren shuffle, (M)LG. slūren, MDu. sloren, Du. sleuren drag, trail.