slug
word
Definition
A 'slug' is a soft, slimy creature similar to a snail but without a shell. It can also mean a single bullet used in a shotgun or a token used in machines or casinos.
Usage & Nuances
'Slug' is informal in non-scientific contexts. As an animal, it is common in gardens and wet areas. As a bullet, it is mostly used with shotguns. As a token, the use is old-fashioned. Don't confuse with the verb 'to slug' (to hit hard).
Example Sentences
After the rain, the sidewalk was covered with slugs.
natural
The old slot machine wouldn't work unless you used a slug instead of a real coin.
natural
Be careful, that's not a snail—it's a slug, so it has no shell.
natural
I saw a slug in the garden this morning.
basic
He found a metal slug on the ground.
basic
A slug can eat many plants in one night.
basic