slice

Everyday

1. A slice is a thin flat piece cut from something like bread, cake, meat or pizza. tree →
2. To slice is to cut something into such pieces. tree →
3. A slice of something is a part or share of it: «a slice of the money». tree →
4. In sport, to slice a ball is to hit it so it spins and curves. tree →

In the lessons

equal pieces of a whole; used for fractions and sharing; slices per pizza or loaf is a rate; in cooking and safety: slice with care, use a board, keep fingers away from the blade, ask an adult for sharp knives; phrases: «a slice of bread», «slice up», «the best thing since sliced bread» (a great new idea)

Examples

• The cake was cut into 8 slices. tree →
• Each child ate 2 slices of pizza. tree →
• A loaf has 20 slices. tree →
• She sliced the apple into 4 pieces. tree →
• Can I have a slice of toast? tree →
• Use a chopping board when you slice vegetables. tree →
• One slice of the 8 is one eighth of the cake. tree →
• He thinks his new game is the best thing since sliced bread. tree →
• He stood watching the big bear cutting thin slices of meat. tree →

Note

Pieces of a whole: slices per whole × wholes = all slices; slices eaten out of all slices is a fraction. Trap: cutting into 4 slices needs 3 cuts, not 4 (for a long loaf cut across). Trap: a round cake cut through the middle: 4 cuts give 8 slices.