slough 
slough (sluf)
noun
- the skin of a snake, esp. the outer layer that is periodically cast off
- any castoff layer, covering, etc.: often used figuratively
- Med. a mass of dead tissue in, or separating from, living tissue or an ulceration
Etymology: ME slouh, akin to Ger schlauch, a skin, bag < IE base *sleu-, to glide, slip > Latvian sl'užât, to slide
intransitive verb
- to be shed, cast off, or discarded; come off
- to drop off; become fewer or less
- to shed skin or other covering
- Med. to separate from the surrounding tissue: said of dead tissue
Etymology: < the n.
transitive verb
- to shed or throw (off) as or like slough; get rid of
- Bridge to get rid of (a card); discard
slough over
to gloss over; minimize
slough (slo̵u; for 4 slo̵̅o̅)
noun
- a place, as a hollow, full of soft, deep mud
Etymology: after Slough of Despond, a deep swamp in Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress
deep, hopeless dejection or discouragement- moral degradation
- a swamp, bog, or marsh, esp. one that is part of an inlet or backwater
Etymology: ME slowe < OE sloh, akin to MLowG slōch, swamp < IE base *sklēk, wet > slack
Object
- skin: The sloughed skin of a female, found near Church Norton, measured some 26 inches in length.
- tissue: The local pain becomes intense with the wound sloughing tissue often down to the bone.
- online: Slough History Online Find out about the history of Slough by visiting Slough History Online - a web site run by Slough Library Service.
- wound: Larval Therapy This can be a useful treatment, especially for sloughing open wounds, which are infected with MRSA.
Adjective modifier
- moist: Moist slough is visually repugnant and malodorous, and provides an ideal culture medium for bacteria.
- soft: Unfortunately, however, within ten days, soft yellow slough was once again accumulating in the previously granulating wound.
- wet: There was greater variation in choice of dressings for wet slough compared to dry slough.
- yellow: Unfortunately, however, within ten days, soft yellow slough was once again accumulating in the previously granulating wound.
Modifying Another Word
- away: The tumor became necrotic after 6 days and after 10 days the dead tissue sloughed away.
Followed by an intransitive particle
- off: Which begs the question: who now bears the " overall " responsibility which the Bank has sloughed off?
- away: For it is only the conquering Spirit sloughing away its human habitation for a better Life.
Followed by a transitive particle
- away: Dry body brushing, with a mitt, brush, or loofah, helps to slough away the dead skin cells that build up.
Used with why or when
- that: My favorite spot was on small opening in the middle of a mile long cattail slough that ran along a flooded creek bed.
Particle object:
- cell: Renowned for increasing cell turnover, Vitamin A helps to slough off dead skin cells to reveal glowing, youthful looking skin.
- coil: Dino Valenti sloughed off this mortal coil on November 16th 1994, aged fifty-seven.
- skin: In order to grow, reptiles slough off old skin in a process called " shedding.
Preposition: of
- despond: Many people here are in the " slough of despond " .
- despondency: Or fall into a slough of despondency from which I can't reach the keyboard.
- ignorance: I am surprised you do not want to lift yourself out of this slough of religious ignorance and whimsy.
- cell: By the way does anyone know if sloughing of cells is restricted to the Hydrozoa or do the other 2 classes also do this?
Come, friendly bombs, and fall on Slough It isn't fit for humans now There isn't grass to graze a cow Swarm over, Death!
Thismiry slough, issuch a place as cannot be mended: It is the descent whither the scum and filth that attends conviction for sindoth continually run, and therefore isit called the Slough of Despond.
Browse dictionary entries near slough
- ‹ slouchy
- ‹ slouch hat
- ‹ slouch
- ‹ slotted Aloha
- ‹ slothful
- ‹ sloth bear
- ‹ sloth
- ‹ slotback
- ‹ slot machine
- ‹ slot car
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