The term "slope" refers to the steepness or incline of a line on a graph. It is calculated by taking the change in vertical distance (rise) and dividing it by the change in horizontal distance (run). A positive slope indicates that the line rises as it moves from left to right, while a negative slope shows that it falls. In mathematics, the slope is often represented by the letter m in the equation of a line, y = mx + b, where b is the y-intercept. Understanding slope is essential in various fields, including geometry, physics, and economics, as it helps describe relationships between variables.