slacken Definition
slacken (slak′ən)
intransitive verb
- to become less active, intense, brisk, etc. slackening trade
- to become less tense; loosen, as rope
Etymology: < slack
transitive verb
- to reduce the intensity or severity of; retard; abate; moderate
- to reduce the tension of; relax; loosen to slacken one's grip
slacken Related Forms
slack′·ener noun
slacken Synonyms
slacken Usage Examples
Object
- bolt: With distributor clamp bolt slackened off you can gradually rotate the body to advance or retard the timing.
- pace: Repeated interruptions were accordingly experienced to the advance of the leading column, by messages to halt or slacken pace.
- speed: He thought awhile, and then asked his crew if it was not time to slacken speed.
- screw: Having stripped the wires ready, slacken the screw of the appropriate connection terminal.
- nut: With the dustpan underneath the joint, use the other wrench to slacken the nut which holds the radiator to the valve.
- rope: Then a sudden dash forward to slacken the rope and drop the weight with an abrupt thud.
Modifying Another Word
- somewhat: Considering that I did over a dozen in November, it's fair to say that I've somewhat slackened the pace.
- never: The pace never slackens; indeed, the sound never varies either.
- then: The vessel is then slackened down to towing speed.
- not: By now the rear wheel had been loosened, after telling the poor chap he was trying to tighten it not slacken it.
- just: In addition, the whole device could be slid off the carriage by slackening just one lever.
- n't: Pull belts and buckles tight and check them before each journey to ensure they have n't slackened off.
Followed by an intransitive particle
off: With the flood slackening off in the tidal River Dee we get ready to go.
Followed by a transitive particle
- off: Slacken off the top two bolts holding the dynamo to the engine.
- up: Round about the hour of ten, the French prison official tends to slacken up a bit.
Particle object:
bolt: Slacken off the clamp bolts on each fork leg.
Preposition: in
pace: That did not mean, the Prime Minister and others made clear, any slackening in the pace of change.
Preposition: of
Browse dictionary entries near slacken
- ‹ slack water
- ‹ slack down or off or up
- ‹ slack-baked
- ‹ slack
- ‹ slabber
- ‹ slab-sided
- ‹ slab
- ‹ SLA
- ‹ sláinte
- ‹ skywriting

