a. 1. That slides or slips; gliding; moving smoothly. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. Slippery; elusory. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

That sliding science hath me made so bare. Chaucer. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sliding friction (Mech.), the resistance one body meets with in sliding along the surface of another, as distinguished from rolling friction. --
Sliding gunter (Naut.), a topmast arranged with metallic fittings so as to be hoisted and lowered by means of halyards. --
Sliding keel (Naut), a movable keel, similar to a centeboard. --
Sliding pair. (Mech.) See the Note under Pair, n., 7. --
Sliding rule. Same as Slide rule, under Slide, n. --
Sliding scale. (a) A scale for raising or lowering imposts in proportion to the fall or rise of prices. (b) A variable scale of wages or of prices. (c) A slide rule. --
Sliding ways (Naut.), the timber guides used in launching a vessel. [ 1913 Webster ]