slack

slack

slack¹ [slak]

adj.

[ME slakke < OE slæc, akin to Du slak < IE base * (s)lēg-, loose, slack > L laxus, lax]

1. slow; idle; sluggish

2. barely moving: said of a current, as of air or water

3. characterized by little work, trade, or business; not busy or active; dull [a slack period]

4. loose; relaxed; not tight, taut, or firm

5. easily changed or influenced; weak; lax

6. careless or negligent [a slack workman]

vt.

1. to make slack; slacken

2. to slake

vi.

1. to be or become slack; slacken

2. to be idle, careless, or negligent

adv.

in a slack manner; so as to be slack

n.

1. a part that is slack or hangs loose

2. a lack of tension or tautness; looseness

3. a stoppage of movement in a current

4. a dull period; lull

SYN.- REMISS

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cut someone some slack

Slang to be less demanding of someone; ease up on someone

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slack off

to slacken

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slack up

to go more slowly

slackly

adv.

slackness

n.

slack² [slak]

n.

[ME sleck, akin to Fl slecke, dross, Du slak: for IE base see SLAY]

a mixture of small pieces of coal, coal dust, and dirt left from the screening of coal

slack³ [slak]

n.

[ME slak < ON * slakki < IE base * sk̑lēk, wet, sprinkle] [Scot. or North Eng.] Scot. North Eng.

1. a small valley

2. a bog; morass