slack

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The definition of slack is someone or something weak, slow, relaxed or careless.

(adjective)

  1. An example of slack is an elastic waistband that has lost its elasticity.
  2. An example of slack is someone who takes twice as long to do a job as another.

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See slack in Webster's New World College Dictionary

adjective

  1. slow; idle; sluggish
  2. barely moving: said of a current, as of air or water
  3. characterized by little work, trade, or business; not busy or active; dull: a slack period
  4. loose; relaxed; not tight, taut, or firm
  5. easily changed or influenced; weak; lax
  6. careless or negligent: a slack workman

Origin: ME slakke < OE slæc, akin to Du slak < IE base *(s)lēg-, loose, slack > L laxus, lax

transitive verb

  1. to make slack; slacken
  2. to slake

intransitive verb

  1. to be or become slack; slacken
  2. to be idle, careless, or negligent

adverb

in a slack manner; so as to be slack

noun

  1. a part that is slack or hangs loose
  2. a lack of tension or tautness; looseness
  3. a stoppage of movement in a current
  4. a dull period; lull

Related Forms:

noun

a mixture of small pieces of coal, coal dust, and dirt left from the screening of coal

Origin: ME sleck, akin to Fl slecke, dross, Du slak: for IE base see slay

noun

  1. a small valley
  2. a bog; morass

Origin: ME slak < ON *slakki < IE base *slēk, wet, sprinkle

See slack in American Heritage Dictionary 4

adjective slack·er, slack·est
  1. Moving slowly; sluggish: a slack pace.
  2. Lacking in activity; not busy: a slack season for the travel business.
  3. Not tense or taut; loose: a slack rope; slack muscles. See Synonyms at loose.
  4. Lacking firmness; flaccid: a slack grip.
  5. Lacking in diligence or due care or concern; negligent: a slack worker. See Synonyms at negligent.
  6. Flowing or blowing with little speed: a slack current; slack winds.
  7. Linguistics Pronounced with the muscles of the tongue and jaw relatively relaxed; lax.
verb slacked, slack·ing, slacks
verb, transitive
  1. To make slower or looser; slacken.
  2. To be careless or remiss in doing: slack one's duty.
  3. To slake (lime).
verb, intransitive
  1. To be or become slack.
  2. To evade work; shirk.
noun
  1. A loose part, as of a rope or sail.
  2. A lack of tension; looseness.
  3. A period of little activity; a lull.
  4. a. A cessation of movement in a current of air or water.
    b. An area of still water.
  5. Unused capacity: still some slack in the economy.
  6. slacks Casual trousers that are not part of a suit.
adverb
In a slack manner: a banner hanging slack.
Phrasal Verb: slack off To decrease in activity or intensity.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English slak

Origin: , from Old English slǽc; see slēg- in Indo-European roots

.

Related Forms:

  • slackˈly adverb
  • slackˈness noun

noun
A mixture of coal fragments, coal dust, and dirt that remains after screening coal.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English sleck

.

noun
Chiefly British
  1. A small dell or hollow.
  2. A bog; a morass.

Origin:

Origin: Middle English slak

Origin: , from Old Norse slakki

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© 1996-2013 LoveToKnow, Corp. All Rights Reserved. Audio pronunciation provided by LoveToKnow, Corp.