Slum
[slʌm]
Definition
(noun.) a district of a city marked by poverty and inferior living conditions.
(verb.) spend time at a lower socio-economic level than one's own, motivated by curiosity or desire for adventure; usage considered condescending and insensitive; 'attending a motion picture show by the upper class was considered sluming in the early 20th century'.
Inputed by Camille--From WordNet
Definition
(n.) A foul back street of a city, especially one filled with a poor, dirty, degraded, and often vicious population; any low neighborhood or dark retreat; -- usually in the plural; as, Westminster slums are haunts for theives.
(n.) Same as Slimes.
Editor: Tracy
Synonyms and Synonymous
n. Close (in a city), alley, lane, dark retreat, low neighborhood.
Checker: Luther
Definition
n. a low street or neighbourhood.—v.i. to visit the slums of a city esp. from motives of curiosity.—ns. Slum′mer one who slums; Slum′ming the practice of visiting slums.
Typed by Audrey
Examples
- But the taxation of unimproved property happens at the same time to be a splendid weapon against the slum. Walter Lippmann. A Preface to Politics.
- Hitherto man has been living in a slum, amidst quarrels, revenges, vanities, shames and taints, hot desires, and urgent appetites. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Its morale was not that of a kraal, but that of a slum. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- Did you ever hear of the great commercial house of Bilson & Slum? Charles Dickens. The Pickwick Papers.
- I thought that by going down on a slum street near the water-front I would get some pretty cheap property. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
- I wonder, Winsett broke off, how a Countess happens to live in our slum? Edith Wharton. The Age of Innocence.
- Sweating, slums, the sense of semi-slavery in labour, must go. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- We passed across Holborn, down Endell Street, and so through a zigzag of slums to Covent Garden Market. Arthur Conan Doyle. The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes.
- There are bad girls in your slums. Edith Wharton. The House of Mirth.
- Nothing could have better pleased the fierce heart of the Paris slums. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- If we were not there, he could come down to the slums at Goerck Street, and would play for an hour or two and talk philosophy. Frank Lewis Dyer. Edison, His Life and Inventions.
Checker: Norris