slack

1 of 5

adjective

ˈslak

: not using due diligence, care, or dispatch : negligent

: characterized by slowness, sluggishness, or lack of energy

a slack pace

: moderate in some quality

especially : moderately warm

a slack oven

: blowing or flowing at low speed

the tide was slack

: not tight or taut

a slack rope

: lacking in usual or normal firmness and steadiness : weak

slack muscles

slack supervision

: wanting in activity : dull

a slack market

: lacking in completeness, finish, or perfection

a very slack piece of work

slackly adverb

slackness noun

slack

2 of 5

verb

slacked; slacking; slacks

intransitive verb

: to be or become slack

: to shirk or evade work or duty

transitive verb

: to be slack or negligent in performing or doing

: lessen, moderate

: to release tension on : loosen

: to cause to abate

: slake sense 3

slack

3 of 5

noun (1)

: cessation in movement or flow

: a part of something that hangs loose without strain

take up the slack of a rope

: trousers especially for casual wear

—usually used in plural

: a dull season or period

: a part that is available but not used

some slack in the budget

: a portion (as of labor or resources) that is required but lacking

hired a temp to take up the slack

: additional leeway or relief from pressure

—usually used with cut

refused to cut me some slack on the schedule

slack

4 of 5

noun (2)

dialectal, England

: a pass between hills

slack

5 of 5

noun (3)

: the finest screenings of coal produced at a mine unusable as fuel unless cleaned

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English slak, from Old English sleac; akin to Old High German slah slack, Latin laxus slack, loose, languēre to languish, Greek lagnos lustful and perhaps to Greek lēgein to stop

Noun (2)

Middle English slak, from Old Norse slakki

Noun (3)

earlier sleck, probably from Middle Dutch slacke, slecke slag

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Noun (1)

1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun (3)

1729, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

slack 1 of 3

adjective

ˈslak

: careless sense 1, negligent

They were slack in all things, without order or discipline.

Jack London, The Call of the Wild

: not energetic : slow

a slack pace

: not tight or firm

a slack rope

a slack jaw

: not busy or active

Business is slack.

slack

2 of 3

verb

slacked; slacking

: to make or become looser, slower, or less energetic

: to avoid work

slack

3 of 3

noun

: a part (as of a rope or sail) that hangs loose without strain

slacks plural : dressy pants

: a portion (as of work or resources) that is required but lacking

He was hired to take up the slack.

: additional relief from pressure

Hint: This sense is usually used with cut. Can you cut me some slack on the schedule?

单词	slackens
释义	slack 1 of 5 adjective ˈslak 1 : not using due diligence, care, or dispatch : negligent 2 a : characterized by slowness, sluggishness, or lack of energy a slack pace b : moderate in some quality especially : moderately warm a slack oven c : blowing or flowing at low speed the tide was slack 3 a : not tight or taut a slack rope b : lacking in usual or normal firmness and steadiness : weak slack muscles slack supervision 4 : wanting in activity : dull a slack market 5 : lacking in completeness, finish, or perfection a very slack piece of work slackly adverb slackness noun slack 2 of 5 verb slacked; slacking; slacks intransitive verb 1 : to be or become slack 2 : to shirk or evade work or duty transitive verb 1 a : to be slack or negligent in performing or doing b : lessen, moderate 2 : to release tension on : loosen 3 a : to cause to abate b : slake sense 3 slack 3 of 5 noun (1) 1 : cessation in movement or flow 2 : a part of something that hangs loose without strain take up the slack of a rope 3 : trousers especially for casual wear —usually used in plural 4 : a dull season or period 5 a : a part that is available but not used some slack in the budget b : a portion (as of labor or resources) that is required but lacking hired a temp to take up the slack 6 : additional leeway or relief from pressure —usually used with cut refused to cut me some slack on the schedule slack 4 of 5 noun (2) dialectal, England : a pass between hills slack 5 of 5 noun (3) : the finest screenings of coal produced at a mine unusable as fuel unless cleaned Synonyms Adjective careless derelict disregardful lax lazy neglectful neglecting negligent remiss Verb ease loosen relax slacken Noun (1) latitude leeway space wiggle room See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences Adjective His broken arm hung slack at his side. The rope suddenly went slack. He accused the government of slack supervision of nuclear technology. Verb They need to stop slacking and get down to work. the skipper ordered the crew to slack off the sheets on the mainsail Word History Etymology Adjective Middle English slak, from Old English sleac; akin to Old High German slah slack, Latin laxus slack, loose, languēre to languish, Greek lagnos lustful and perhaps to Greek lēgein to stop Noun (2) Middle English slak, from Old Norse slakki Noun (3) earlier sleck, probably from Middle Dutch slacke, slecke slag First Known Use Adjective before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Verb 13th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1 Noun (1) 1756, in the meaning defined at sense 1 Noun (2) 14th century, in the meaning defined above Noun (3) 1729, in the meaning defined above Phrases Containing slack give/cut (someone) some slack slack water slack off pick/take up the slack slack-jawed give/cut (someone) some slack slack water slack off pick/take up the slack slack-jawed Kids Definition slack 1 of 3 adjective ˈslak 1 : careless sense 1, negligent They were slack in all things, without order or discipline. Jack London, The Call of the Wild 2 : not energetic : slow a slack pace 3 : not tight or firm a slack rope a slack jaw 4 : not busy or active Business is slack. slack 2 of 3 verb slacked; slacking 1 : to make or become looser, slower, or less energetic 2 : to avoid work slack 3 of 3 noun 1 : a part (as of a rope or sail) that hangs loose without strain 2 slacks plural : dressy pants 3 : a portion (as of work or resources) that is required but lacking He was hired to take up the slack. 4 : additional relief from pressure Hint: This sense is usually used with cut. Can you cut me some slack on the schedule? slackens verb present tense third-person singular of slacken 1 as in loosens to make less taut you'll need to slacken the rope a bit to get it free of that post Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance loosens relaxes eases slacks detaches unties unfastens undoes frees unbinds Antonyms & Near Antonyms tightens tensions stretches binds attaches fastens ties restrains strains constrains tenses See More 2 as in slows to cause to move or proceed at a less rapid pace drivers need to slacken their speed as they approach the sharp curve Synonyms & Similar Words slows brakes decelerates inhibits hinders stops retards restrains impedes halts obstructs curbs hampers hobbles reins checks thwarts handicaps constrains encumbers bottlenecks frustrates ties up foils arrests sets back baffles holds back sabotages holds up Antonyms & Near Antonyms accelerates quickens hastens rushes speeds (up) hurries pushes urges encourages propels stirs spurs drives facilitates helps aids eases advances steps up furthers goads dispatches forwards expedites See More
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slack

adjective

verb

noun (1)

noun (2)

noun (3)

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Phrases Containing slack

Kids Definition

adjective

verb

noun

verb