slice and piece

What's the difference between a "slice of cake" and a "piece of cake"?

Whilst they may mean the same thing, slice to my mind is larger than piece.

In my mind, "slice" and "piece" have absolutely identical meaning in this context.

I think I would be more likely to use "slice" if it's wedge-shaped, and "piece" if it isn't. But that's only a tendency, and quite possibly an idiosyncratic one.

- Kef

To me a slice of pie would be smaller than a piece of pie.

To me, it seems that (in general) a slice is something cut by a knife-like device out of a larger mass. Generally, one dimension of the slice is much smaller than the other two (slice of bread, slice of cheese, slice of meatloaf, etc.).

I'd think a slice of cake would resemble a slice of bread or meatloaf. Perhaps a coffee cake (or poundcake, banana cake, etc.) baked in a bread pan could be sliced into small, thin pieces, and these would be called 'slices'. I'm not sure I'd use the term 'slice" for a wedge-shaped piece of a round cake, unless it were very thin.

If in doubt, ask for a piece. A slice is always a piece but a piece is not always a slice. :)