slowslow1 /sləʊ $ sloʊ/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective (comparative slower, superlative slowest) 
The car was travelling at a very slow speed. a slow walker The economy faces a year of slower growth. Take a few deep, slow breaths.2taking too long taking too long OPP fast: Taylor was concerned at the slow progress of the investigations. The legal system can be painfully slow (=much too slow).slow to do something The wound was slow to heal.3with delay [not before noun] if you are slow to do something, you do not do it as soon as you can or shouldslow to do something Farmers have been slow to exploit this market. Their attitude was slow to change.slow in doing something He has been slow in announcing the name of his successor. New ideas have been slow in coming.4longer time taking a longer time than something similar OPP fast: We got on the slow train (=one that stops at more stations) by mistake.5business if business or trade is slow, there are not many customers or not much is sold: Business is often slow in the afternoon. The company is experiencing slow sales.6clock [not before noun] if a clock or watch is slow, it is showing a time earlier than the correct time OPP fastten minutes/five minutes etc slow The clock is about five minutes slow.7not clever not good or quick at understanding things: Teaching assistants have time to help the slower pupils.8slow on the uptake not quick to understand something new: Sometimes Tim’s a little slow on the uptake.9slow off the mark not quick enough at reacting to something10do a slow burn American English informal to slowly get angry: Tony fumbled the ball and I could see the coach doing a slow burn.11slow handclap British English if a group of people give someone a slow handclap, they clap their hands slowly to show their disapproval12a slow oven an oven that is at a low temperature13photography a slow film does not react to light very easily—slowness noun [uncountable]THESAURUSslow not moving quickly or not doing something quickly: · I was always one of the slowest runners in my class.· My computer’s really slow compared to the ones at school.gradual happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time: · a gradual rise in the Earth’s temperature· I’ve noticed a gradual improvement in his work.leisurely especially written moving or doing something slowly, especially because you are enjoying what you are doing and do not have to hurry: · a leisurely breakfast· They walked at a leisurely pace.unhurried especially written moving or doing something in a slow and calm way, without rushing at all: · She continued to listen, seeming relaxed and unhurried.· the doctor’s calm unhurried mannersluggish moving or reacting more slowly than usual, especially because of a loss of power or energy. Also used when business, sales, or the economy seem very slow: · The car seems rather sluggish going uphill.· The drink was making her sluggish.· the company’s sluggish performance this year· Sales have been sluggish.lethargic moving slowly, because you feel as if you have no energy and no interest in doing anything: · She woke up feeling heavy and lethargic.· His son seemed depressed and lethargic.languid literary slow and with very little energy or activity – used about people, actions, or periods of time: · She lifted her hand in a languid wave.· a long languid afternoon in the middle of summer· He was pale and had rather a languid air about him.glacial literary extremely slow – used especially about the speed at which something happens: · Things are changing, but at a glacial pace.
WORD ORIGINslow1
Origin:
Old English slawEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- "Where are y'all from?" he asked in a slow Southern drawl.
- slow economic growth
- a slow learner
- Climate change is a very slow process.
- Danny is a little bit slow.
- Farmers in the region have been slow to adopt modern agricultural methods.
- February is the slowest month in the tourist trade.
- For the first few months that I was taking lessons, my progress was extremely slow.
- I was always one of the slowest runners in my class.
- It's been a pretty slow day.
- My computer's really slow compared to the ones at school.
- Rebuilding the country's economy is likely to be a long, slow process.
- She's making a slow recovery after her illness.
- The CIA has been slow in turning over the documents that Congress requested.
- The train was slow, noisy, and uncomfortable.
- They are notoriously slow workers.
- Things have been slow, real slow, for months now.
- We danced to all the slow songs.
- He's so slow, so unimaginative, so lifeless.
- In the home this usually means the telephone line, which is fine for voice but excruciatingly slow for data.
- It was slow, unbearable torture that would drive any man insane.
- Life as ever-renewing mineral, and minerals as slow life.
- Some patients experience a slow decline in their health as the effectiveness of the drugs gradually decreases.
- The closer you sail, the slower you go and viceversa.
THESAURUS
not moving quickly or not doing something quickly: · I was always one of the slowest runners in my class.· My computer’s really slow compared to the ones at school.
happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time: · a gradual rise in the Earth’s temperature· I’ve noticed a gradual improvement in his work.
especially written moving or doing something slowly, especially because you are enjoying what you are doing and do not have to hurry: · a leisurely breakfast· They walked at a leisurely pace.
especially written moving or doing something in a slow and calm way, without rushing at all: · She continued to listen, seeming relaxed and unhurried.· the doctor’s calm unhurried manner
moving or reacting more slowly than usual, especially because of a loss of power or energy. Also used when business, sales, or the economy seem very slow: · The car seems rather sluggish going uphill.· The drink was making her sluggish.· the company’s sluggish performance this year· Sales have been sluggish.
moving slowly, because you feel as if you have no energy and no interest in doing anything: · She woke up feeling heavy and lethargic.· His son seemed depressed and lethargic.
literary slow and with very little energy or activity – used about people, actions, or periods of time: · She lifted her hand in a languid wave.· a long languid afternoon in the middle of summer· He was pale and had rather a languid air about him.
literary extremely slow – used especially about the speed at which something happens: · Things are changing, but at a glacial pace.
Longman Language Activatormoving slowly or doing something slowly not moving quickly or not doing something quickly: · The train was slow, noisy, and uncomfortable.· I was always one of the slowest runners in my class.· My computer's really slow compared to the ones at school.slow to do something: · Farmers in the region have been slow to adopt modern agricultural methods.slow in doing something: · The CIA has been slow in turning over the documents that Congress requested.
· He got up slowly out of his chair and came towards me.· Can you speak more slowly? I can't understand what you're saying.· Large white clouds drifted slowly across the deep blue sky.· Lynne slowly began to realize the job wasn't as easy as it seemed.
moving slowly, especially because of being prevented from moving faster: · In the evenings the roads out of town are clogged with slow-moving traffic.· Lubbers are slow-moving flightless insects native to the southeastern U.S.· The canal's water was muddy and slow-moving.
moving or doing something slowly, especially because you are enjoying what you are doing and do not have to hurry: · Sunday mornings she gets up late and then has a leisurely breakfast with her family.· We spent a leisurely afternoon talking about old times.at a leisurely pace: · The two set off walking down the beach at a leisurely pace.
showing images or movement at a slower speed than is normal - use this especially about pictures in a film: · The car crash seemed to take place in slow-motion.· The documentary showed the hawk's dive in slow-motion.· Fans who taped the show can replay it in slow-motion to read the messages that whizzed by on screen.
if a vehicle travels at low speed , it moves more slowly than it usually does: · You'll save money on petrol if you drive your car at low speed.· The car came towards them at low speed, and then someone leaned out the back window and started shooting.
moving or doing something extremely slowly, especially when this is annoying: · Traffic was moving at a snail's pace.· The development project seems to be moving at a snail's pace.
moving more slowly than usual, especially because of a loss of power or energy: · The car felt sluggish as we drove up the hill.· The children were tired and sluggish and didn't seem interested in any of the games.
British /slowpoke American spoken someone who does something too slowly, works too slowly, walks too slowly, etc: · Come on, slowcoach! If you don't hurry up, we'll be late.· I hate getting stuck behind these slowpokes on the highway.
happening or changing slowly · She's making a slow recovery after her illness.· Rebuilding the country's economy is likely to be a long, slow process.· For the first few months that I was taking lessons, my progress was extremely slow.
· The situation is slowly improving.· Slowly prices began to fall.· Their relationship has developed slowly, but they now consider each other close friends.
slowly over a period of time: · The climate is gradually becoming drier and warmer.· As the weeks passed, I gradually accepted the idea of him leaving.· Most patients gradually develop a resistance to the drug.
happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time: · I had noticed a gradual improvement in her written work.· The chart showed a gradual rise in his temperature over the previous eight hours.· Because the cell destruction is gradual, a victim's pancreas can function normally for years.
happening or done slowly in a series of small amounts or stages - use this especially about something that is gradually improving: · Little by little, Greg's health improved.· Bit by bit, the dogs got used to their new surroundings.· Then add the olive oil, little by little, beating continuously until the sauce thickens.
if something, especially an improvement in something, happens slowly but surely , it happens slowly and steadily until it is completed: · Slowly but surely, the company is becoming successful again.· She's getting better, slowly but surely.
happening, developing, or changing very slowly, through a series of small changes that may be difficult to notice: · By degrees, little children grow less dependent on their parents.· The storm intensified by degrees until the rain was pouring down.
to do something slowly to do something slowly because you do not want to hurry, for example when you are making a decision or doing a difficult piece of work: · Just take your time. You don't have to decide immediately.take your time over/about: · Not wanting to seem too eager, Susan took her time about replying to the invitation.take your time doing something: · Alice took her time telling the story, making sure to include every detail.
use this when someone is happy to do something slowly, usually because they are enjoying what they are doing and want to continue doing it: · "Do you mind if we look around a little more?" "Not at all. I'm in no hurry."be in no hurry to do something: · The sun was shining and I was in no hurry to get back to the office.
to deliberately do something slowly over a long period of time, because you will get better results if you do it that way: · Let's take it slowly, one step at a time, okay?· You've just had a serious operation - you'll have to take things slowly for the next few weeks.
to move or work too slowly, especially because you are not really paying attention to what you are doing: · We'll never get all the shopping done today if you dawdle like this.dawdle over: · I can't see why those guys in the office are dawdling over this.
to move more slowly or do something more slowly to move or do something more slowly, or make someone do this: · Slow down! You're driving too fast!· Everyone's always rushing around trying to get things done - we all need to slow down and take it easy.slow somebody down: · We could have been here hours ago, but the rain slowed us down.
to drive more slowly than before - used especially on road signs or in official instructions: · Reduce speed now - roadworks ahead.· There is heavy fog on all roads tonight so drivers are advised to reduce speed and drive with extra care.
to move more slowly than the other people to move more slowly than the other people you are with, so that you become separated from them: · A half an hour into the hike, two of the boys had already fallen behind.· The ship was so slow it dropped far behind the rest of the convoy.
to walk or move more slowly than other people in the group you are with: · He deliberately lagged behind so he could have a cigarette.· We started walking faster, not wanting to lag behind the rest of the group.
to move slowly towards or away from something or someone if a vehicle crawls , it moves very slowly, because there is a lot of other traffic on the road, or because something is preventing it from moving at its usual speed: crawl along/down/up etc: · The old Buick barely managed to crawl up the hill.· We sat in the car with the radio on, crawling along behind a long line of other cars.
to move very slowly and carefully, stopping regularly, for example because there is not much space or because you do not want to be noticed: inch towards/forward/across etc: · The car inched forward into the narrow parking space.· We watched the cat inching along the ground, not taking its eyes off the bird for a second.inch your way along/towards/across etc: · I inched my way across the crowded room to where Lou was standing.
to move very slowly and carefully, stopping regularly, for example because you do not want to be noticed or because it would be dangerous to move more quickly: edge along/towards/across etc: · I started edging towards the door, hoping to slip away unnoticed.· He kept an eye on me as he edged across the room.· Billy edged along the ledge, trying not to look down.
if light, a shadow, mist, water etc creeps somewhere, it moves so slowly that you almost do not notice it; if someone creeps somewhere, they move slowly and quietly so that they will not be noticed: creep across/towards/up etc: · Clouds crept across the horizon, just above the line of trees.· Armed men in ski masks crept up on the van and raked it with gunfire.· As the sun began to set, long shadows seemed to creep out of the corners.· We crept down to the deserted library at the other end of the hall, so that we could talk.
a time when a place is not busy a quiet day, weekend etc is one in which there is very little business or activity and very few people: · It's been a very quiet morning so far. Only two people came in, and neither of them bought anything.· Even on a quiet weekend there are plenty of people on the beach.· This time of the year is always quiet. It gets busy again after winter.
a slow period of time in a shop or business is one in which there are very few customers and there is very little business: · Things have been slow, real slow, for months now.· February is the slowest month in the tourist trade.
especially British the off-peak time , period etc is the time when trains, hotels, tourist areas etc are not busy: · At off-peak times senior citizens can use the sports centre at reduced rates.· Take advantage of off-peak reductions for package holidays.
also out of season British if you go to a tourist area in the off-season or out of season , you go there during that part of the year when it is not busy and is usually cheaper: · We had arrived in Biarritz out of season and most of the hotels were closed.· If you go for a holiday in the off-season, you'll find some real bargains.during the off-season: · During the off-season, rates start at $75 per night for a cabin that sleeps two.
not able to read to be unable to read at all: · A new report says that 25% of all 7-year-olds cannot read.· Jim couldn't read at all until he was fifteen.· It was not until I had lived with her for a year that I realized she couldn't read.
someone who is illiterate cannot read or write - use this about adults or older children: · His father was an illiterate farm worker.· If 70% of the population is illiterate, how do people know who they are voting for?
someone, especially a child, who can read, but not very well: · At first Katy was a slow reader, but now she reads all the time.· At the end of the day the teacher does half an hour's extra work with the slow readers.
the fact of being not able to read - use this especially to talk about how many people in a society cannot read: · Illiteracy rates among women in many countries are a serious cause for concern.· a society struggling to overcome poverty and illiteracy· The government has given extra funding to help tackle illiteracy in the inner cities.
to become healthy again after an illness or accident to become healthy again after you have had an illness, injury, or operation: · My mother's been very ill, and is still in hospital recovering.· Sammy needed to recover a little before they could move him to a hospital nearer his home.recover from: · He never really recovered from the operation.fully recover (=completely recover): · It was several months before John had fully recovered from his heart attack.
especially spoken to become healthy again after you have had an illness, injury, or operation: · I hope you get better soon.· My back has been quite bad recently, but it's getting better slowly.· I didn't remember anything about the accident, but little by little, as I got better, memories started coming back to me.
to recover completely, fully, well, or slowly: · The disease has been caught early, and the doctors say she should make a complete recovery.· Thomas is making a good recovery, although he is still quite weak.make a remarkable/amazing recovery: · Joe has made a remarkable recovery from the injuries he sustained in the accident.
to recover from an illness, especially one that is not very serious: · Mark hasn't got over the flu yet. He still feels pretty weak.· I've had a nasty cold, but I'm getting over it now.· The doctor told Mum it was only a stomach upset, not food poisoning, and she would get over it in a day or two.
to recover from an illness - use this especially when you are encouraging someone to recover: · Get well soon -- we all miss you!· I hope you get well quickly.
to feel less ill than you did before: · I hope you feel better soon.· My father's been quite ill, but he's starting to feel a bit better now.
if you or your health improves, you become less ill than you were before but not completely well. Improve is more formal than feel better: · Susie's improving gradually with this new treatment.· My health finally began to improve when I changed to a less stressful job.· She was told to go back to the doctor in two weeks if she hadn't improved.
if someone is on the mend , they are definitely showing signs of getting better after an illness or injury: · I'm glad to see you're on the mend again.· Kathy's been quite ill with flu, but I think she's on the mend now.
to manage to recover from an illness such as a cold or an infection, which you have had for a fairly long time: shake something off: · Towards the end of the year he caught flu, and he couldn't shake it off.shake off something: · It seems to be taking me a long time to shake off this cold.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The legal system can be painfully slow (=much too slow). The clock is about five minutes slow.COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES I’m getting the work done, but it’s slow going. Bamboo is a very vigorous grower. Cars in the fast lane were travelling at over 80 miles an hour. Be careful when changing lanes in fast-moving traffic. A tennis player needs to have very quick reflexes. The service was terrible and so was the food.
The legal system can be painfully slow (=much too slow). The clock is about five minutes slow.· The car slowed down and stopped outside our house.
(=shows a later or earlier time than the real time)· There’s no need to hurry – that clock’s fast.
· Slow cooking gives the dish a better flavour.
· At the end of the play, the main character dies a violent death.
· The US economy is slowing down after a long period of growth.
I’m getting the work done, but it’s slow going. Bamboo is a very vigorous grower.· Economists are forecasting a period of slow growth.
Cars in the fast lane were travelling at over 80 miles an hour. (=someone who learns things slowly)· The computer program means that slow learners can practise as long as they need to.
· the slow movements of the old man
Be careful when changing lanes in fast-moving traffic.· The pace of life in the countryside is slower.
· After a surge in exports, the pace slackened considerably the following year.
· Cyanide is a very strong, quick-acting poison.
· Collecting the data is a slow process.
· The task remains difficult and progress has been slow.
· Her pulse was slow but steady.
(=one that lets air out very slowly)
· The urban population has grown at a faster rate than the rural population.
· Her son was quite a slow reader.
· A slow recovery in the hotel market is likely to hold back the company’s profits.
A tennis player needs to have very quick reflexes. The service was terrible and so was the food.· A slow smile spread across his face.
· Even at low speed, an accident could mean serious injury for a child.
· Work got off to a very slow start because of bad weather.
· She is making a slow but steady recovery.
· Traffic’s very slow going out of New York.
(also a stopping train British English) (=one that stops at a lot of places)· We got on the stopping train by mistake and it took hours to get home.
(=it shows an earlier time)· 'He’s late.' 'Maybe his watch is running slow.'
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB· For example, last year it became evident that terminal responses at peak times were becoming much slower.· Decision-making tends to be much slower and this is often the reason for such slowness.· McNeill Alexander adopted a different analytical technique, and came up with a much slower dinosaur than Bakker's.· She had justified her behaviour to herself on the basis that the police would have been much slower and more painstaking.· There would be higher taxes and, at best, much slower growth in public spending.· This leaves the unfortunate animal to crawl away and die a much slower death than if hounds had caught him.· Phone-ins on radio can provide speedy feedback, but by and large feedback is much slower in the mass media than in interpersonal communications.· The ionophore-induced responses were much slower than those induced by forskolin.
· Although painfully slow, it meant he could construct small sentences.· But the council got off to a painfully slow start.· Still, too many of them, like too many people throughout the division, remained painfully slow in taking action.· In spite of this painfully slow start, today he is a millionaire.· Piecemeal Development Attempting to build a school-to-work system company by company and school by school is painfully slow.· There is every indication that youth apprenticeships will continue to grow in the United States, but at a painfully slow rate.· The painfully slow elevators, whose speed can be measured in millimeters per hour.· The school building program -.. is creeping along at a painfully slow clip.
· By later standards they were rather slow cars, but the trucks gave a smooth ride on straight track.· That may be a rather slow speed compared with that of light.· I said that this was almost certain but the process was rather slow.· Flight rather slow and flapping, recalling larger gulls, when hunting over water; also soars and hovers.· In fact I've had to conclude that I am generally rather slow on the uptake.· Frau Grossman was rather slow in forwarding it.· He was rather slow, rather ponderous.· We are making rather slow progress today.
· One reason for the Surrealists' relatively slow climb since 1975 is that they were highly valued then.· Most casino operators in Las Vegas were dogged by a relatively slow year following boom years in 1993 and 1994.· These characteristics make for relatively slow, concrete, and restricted thought.· You want a relatively slow but controlled and permanent solution to your weight problem.· And character recognition is relatively slow and prone to errors even on powerful computers.· This current path has a small resistance and no opposing voltage, so the decay of current is relatively slow.· Transport has been relatively slow to see much benefit from the information technology revolution.
· Progress was so slow that many found it quicker to abandon their carriages and continue on foot.· The process is so slow that contemporaries never notice it.· The pace is slow, so slow that lots of things are unfinished.· It dripped like a slow percolation through limestone, so slow that she forgot it between drops.· Why was Britain so slow to develop a national system of education before 1914?· Since travel was so slow, these commercial transactions took a long time to complete.· He's so slow, so unimaginative, so lifeless.· Demand is so slow that the price index fell to 40. 8 % in December from 44. 5 %.
· They tried to leap over the sandbags, but were too slow.· Systems required too much resource and became too slow.· But it was too slow, or too stupid: I just had time to grab her angles and pull her away.· Meanwhile, customers were also unhappy Kodak was too slow, too late, and too error ridden.· The parents continued to find Ramsey's progress too slow.· A shovel had been too slow and cumbersome.· The drive to the airport was too slow for Duncan.· The build-up of phase current to its rated value would be too slow for satisfactory operation of the motor at high speeds.
· Constant very slow water flow should take place inside the media preventing true dead areas forming to leach back impurities.· Saguaro cactus are very slow growing.· Messenger and Outlook Express both decode automatically within the window, but are very slow.· The mountains, the waters of the ocean, and the gases of the sky were very slow life.· It has been in operation for 100 years and is proceeding at a very slow rate.· Curiously, it was actually very slow to happen in the financial services markets.· Propagation in the aquarium is very slow and rare.
NOUN· The balancing slower growth was supplied by the portmanteau of miscellaneous services.· His pacifism, like his social philosophy, was a slow growth.· During the 1960's there was slow growth with more rapid growth during the early 1970's.· This plant likes moving water and grows well when placed next to the filtering system, which enhances their normally slow growth.· Temperatures below this slow down further its normal slow growth.· The unwillingness of oil-consuming societies to check their spending resulted in the phenomenon of stagflation: slow growth combined with inflation.· That was slower growth, in percentage terms, than many of its peers enjoyed.
· Eventual guaranteed success is often a very desirable aspect, especially for young or slow learners.· By portraying herself as a slow learner, Wong affords her reader a superior and even a smug position.· Actually he majored in Phys Ed, but to tell you the truth, Rickie was always a slow learner.· What a slow learner I am!· He introduced a quite different strand: I was a slow learner.· Indeed, they were probably worried about why the baby was a slow learner.· In Balbinder's case it was not simply that he was a slow learner.· Does my right hon. and learned Friend agree that the Labour party is a party of slow learners?
· At its heart is a slow movement of great intensity and spellbinding simplicity, magically performed.· But even the slow movements are lovely.· Here in the slow movement she allowed the gentle principal theme to flow naturally and above all musically.· To Western ears, the wind playing in the slow movement will probably sound execrable.· The slow movement of this performance is particularly fine, with pianissimos that have you catching your breath.· It will be seen from tables 1 and 2 that such very slow movements were more frequent than one might expect.· His preference for very measured speeds in slow movements leads him to at least one serious miscalculation.· By contrast he is equally adept at setting a tone of meditative rapture in the slower movements.
· He fell from power in 1987, resigning from the Politburo over the slow pace of reform.· The increase was at a slower pace than in the second quarter, however, suggesting gains in efficiency may be peaking.· Travel went at a very slow pace.· What you do not do is rush it by warming it up; just let it grow at its own slow pace.· Thus, for the question about the slow pace of educational change you could set a paragraph to answer the following questions.· Bloomfield Hills, Canton and Carleton have grown at the slowest pace.· Then Wallace hit a good cross which Speed side footed the volley at very slow pace into the net.· Indeed, the slow pace of communications has earned the Web a new nickname: the World Wide Wait.
· The slowest processes come at the top of the hierarchy, and provide the environment for faster processes.· During this slow process, what was happening in the South?· For a start, the introduction of the changes enshrined in the new Charities Act will be a slow process.· To the extent that proletarianization is occurring, it may be a long, slow process.· The Government is restoring several of them as holiday flats, a slow process but tastefully done.· Even 20 or 30 years ago, finding the fish was a slow process.· The intention behind the book is furthering the necessarily slow process of changing values.· When it does, it is not an event but a painful and slow process.
· Even with computers it is extremely difficult, as the slow progress shows.· In the morning a bicycle made its slow progress across the fields.· And she knew absolutely everything, which must have made her particularly disappointed in Frankie's slow progress at school.· The boat was making very slow progress in heavy seas.· We are making rather slow progress today.· Surprisingly, in a society fascinated by technology, the aeroplane made slow progress.· The fact that food and water were running out due to slow progress, demoralized me still further.· For Jez, each day is hard work, with slow progress, and sometimes with disappointment.
· In the laboratory, males had a significantly slower rate of growth, but still matured earlier than females.· Because the elderly often experience a decline in liver function, these drugs are metabolized at a slower rate.· These will maintain growth but at slower rates than with live food.· Or alternatively, if time is passing at a slower rate on the moving train.· It has been in operation for 100 years and is proceeding at a very slow rate.· The cursor, by the way, appears boldfaced but blinking at a slower rate than the cursor in the text itself.· Any slower rate, as for example in the first half of the eighteenth century, allowed real wages to rise.· Consumers, overloaded with debt, have cut back new borrowing to the slowest rate in two years.
· The main conclusion to be drawn here is that the way to aid slow readers is to improve their word-recognition skills.· He was one of the slow readers who met with me for extra work from time to time.· He was a slow reader, and his lips moved as he followed the words.· Her good readers are voracious and read their weight in books every week, while the slow readers lag behind.· The eyes of the slow reader will stop on each word before moving on to the next one.· Have you ever watched people reading to themselves, slow readers who move their lips silently as they read?
· A slow smile, almost sad.· Cutty smiled his slow smile that expressed no joy.· He moved with a delicacy that emphasised his power, and he had a slow smile and a gentle handshake.· A slow smile spread across his face as he realized that it must be Ace with the Marines.· Roman's slow smile was infinitely sardonic.· A slow smile spreads over her lips.
· With the slower speeds the qualifying heats as well as the race itself were almost injury-free this year.· People have become frustrated with the inability to get online and the slow speeds of the Internet.· The slowest speeds, however, are already quite fast and there is little practical room for manipulation beyond them.· Speedsensitive steering too sensitive at slow speeds.· Earlier types have run at high power, even when manoeuvring at slow speed, to keep the skirt inflated.· That may be a rather slow speed compared with that of light.· That is impossible - due to the numbers of the missiles, their range and slow speed.· On slowest speed, mix in the flour and baking soda.
· After a slow start John Campbell managed to raise a further £90 for the Fund.· But the council got off to a painfully slow start.· But Mercury is making a slow start.· He has had a very slow start this season, though.· Garah, who split a pastern last year, overcame a slow start to win the Stetchworth Maiden Stakes.· And the work got off to a very slow start.· The picture is one of a slow start followed by years of sustained rapid growth.· In spite of this painfully slow start, today he is a millionaire.
· I missed the slower trains with the lounge cars and the rackety wheels.· I changed in Edinburgh to a slower train.· The drive from Reims was a long one, but it was still better than taking the slow train down from Paris.· Not me, after encountering one of these suits on a go-slow train.· In truth, this one has been something more akin to a slow train coming.· Or persuade the operators of a slow train to Ulan Bator to put his Beatles cassette on the public-address system?· What they did not realize was that the express train had a restaurant car and the slow train did not.
· Blake's slow walk appeared to unnerve them.· I learned the grammar, the ritual behavior, the slow walk of openings.· My diary this Saturday showed a very slow walk past trees and stones and gateways which the lines on her face remembered.· We moved about a hundred feet at a slow walk.· She liked nothing better than a nice slow walk round a cemetery as a rule.· After a slow walk past the dustbins he found nothing of interest except a bag of rusty washers and an old tap.
PHRASES FROM THE ENTRY► slow handclapPHRASES FROM OTHER ENTRIES► slow handclap► be slow/quick on the uptake► a fast/slow etc walker
1not quick not moving, being done, or happening quickly OPP quick, fast: - Diesels are condemned by some for being too slow off the mark.
- This time, they were slow off the mark.
- Coach Bowen stood on the sidelines, doing a slow burn.
- Toast the slices in a slow oven until they are crisp.
- A bit slow on the uptake, you might think, Haringey's finance department.
- And so, finally, to Anthony O'Hear, intellectual and all-round clever fellow, albeit a bit slow on the uptake.
- Could anyone really be that slow on the uptake? wondered Pascoe.
- In fact I've had to conclude that I am generally rather slow on the uptake.
- Sarah wasn't slow on the uptake this time.
- Can we clean out the garage at last and buy for the long haul?
- In the long haul, Rex wanted what we all want, a measure of financial security.
- It is necessary to get things into perspective before the long haul to the Southern Hemisphere, though.
- Miles per gallon Then, on a long haul, it wouldn't go up hill or overtake on the flat.
- Over the long haul, how you see others may be even more important in helping your dreams come true.
- That would be a long haul.
- The county could subsidize the longer hauls from North County through a discount on tip fees.
- Those who do not fancy long haul can share short flights between two or three budding pilots.
- Salad crops, however, are quick off the mark.
- This time, they were slow off the mark.
- As always since the Government came into power, we are in the slow lane.
- Old fogey that I am, after that I stayed in the slow lane, poking along at 80 or 90.
- Would you expect him to poke along in the slow lane?
The car was travelling at a very slow speed. a slow walker The economy faces a year of slower growth. Take a few deep, slow breaths.2taking too long taking too long OPP fast: Taylor was concerned at the slow progress of the investigations. The legal system can be painfully slow (=much too slow).slow to do something The wound was slow to heal.3with delay [not before noun] if you are slow to do something, you do not do it as soon as you can or shouldslow to do something Farmers have been slow to exploit this market. Their attitude was slow to change.slow in doing something He has been slow in announcing the name of his successor. New ideas have been slow in coming.4longer time taking a longer time than something similar OPP fast: We got on the slow train (=one that stops at more stations) by mistake.5business if business or trade is slow, there are not many customers or not much is sold: Business is often slow in the afternoon. The company is experiencing slow sales.6clock [not before noun] if a clock or watch is slow, it is showing a time earlier than the correct time OPP fastten minutes/five minutes etc slow The clock is about five minutes slow.7not clever not good or quick at understanding things: Teaching assistants have time to help the slower pupils.8slow on the uptake not quick to understand something new: Sometimes Tim’s a little slow on the uptake.9slow off the mark not quick enough at reacting to something10do a slow burn American English informal to slowly get angry: Tony fumbled the ball and I could see the coach doing a slow burn.11slow handclap British English if a group of people give someone a slow handclap, they clap their hands slowly to show their disapproval12a slow oven an oven that is at a low temperature13photography a slow film does not react to light very easily—slowness noun [uncountable]THESAURUSslow not moving quickly or not doing something quickly: · I was always one of the slowest runners in my class.· My computer’s really slow compared to the ones at school.gradual happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time: · a gradual rise in the Earth’s temperature· I’ve noticed a gradual improvement in his work.leisurely especially written moving or doing something slowly, especially because you are enjoying what you are doing and do not have to hurry: · a leisurely breakfast· They walked at a leisurely pace.unhurried especially written moving or doing something in a slow and calm way, without rushing at all: · She continued to listen, seeming relaxed and unhurried.· the doctor’s calm unhurried mannersluggish moving or reacting more slowly than usual, especially because of a loss of power or energy. Also used when business, sales, or the economy seem very slow: · The car seems rather sluggish going uphill.· The drink was making her sluggish.· the company’s sluggish performance this year· Sales have been sluggish.lethargic moving slowly, because you feel as if you have no energy and no interest in doing anything: · She woke up feeling heavy and lethargic.· His son seemed depressed and lethargic.languid literary slow and with very little energy or activity – used about people, actions, or periods of time: · She lifted her hand in a languid wave.· a long languid afternoon in the middle of summer· He was pale and had rather a languid air about him.glacial literary extremely slow – used especially about the speed at which something happens: · Things are changing, but at a glacial pace.