sloth Hear it!

sloth definition

sloth (slôt̸h, slät̸h; also, and chiefly Brit, slōt̸h)

noun

  1. disinclination to work or exert oneself; indolence; laziness; idleness
  2. Now Rare slowness; delay
    1. any of a family (Bradypodidae) of slow-moving, tree-dwelling edentate mammals of tropical Central and South America that hang, back down, from branches and feed on fruits and vegetation, including a three-toed species (genus Bradypus) and a two-toed species (genus Choloepus)
    2. any of various families of extinct, ground-dwelling edentate mammals

Etymology: ME slouthe < slou, slow, used for older slewthe, sleuthe < OE slæwth, sloth < slaw, slow: see slow & -th

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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