slack

Meaning

Noun

1. (uncountable) The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it.
2. (countable, uncountable) A dip in a surface.
3. (countable, uncountable) In particular, a shallow dell or hollow; a dip in the surface of terrain, such as between hills.
4. (countable) A low-lying marsh or a pool, especially a tidal or intermittent one which periodically fills and drains.
5. (uncountable) Unconditional listening attention given by client to patient.
6. (attributive, countable, form-of, uncountable) Attributive form of slacks (“semi-formal trousers”).

Adj

1. Lax; not tense; not firmly extended.
2. Weak; not holding fast.
3. Moderate in some capacity.
4. Moderate in some capacity.
5. Lacking diligence or care; not earnest or eager.
6. Not active or busy, successful, or violent.
7. Excess; surplus to requirements.
8. (Caribbean, Jamaica, slang) Vulgar; sexually explicit, especially in dancehall music.
9. Lax.

Adv

Slackly.

Verb

1. (ambitransitive) To slacken.
2. (obsolete) To mitigate; to reduce the strength of.
3. To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake.
4. To refuse to work as hard as one is supposed to.

slacks

• Noun
• Verb

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Synonyms

loose

lax

sluggish

slow

looseness

slake

lazy

slacken

slackness

limp

languid

loosen

flaccid

weak

inert

listless

careless

loaf

flabby

idle

abate

relax

relaxed

☺️

morass

baggy

laxity

culm

dull

slothful

slow down

droopy

slackening

shirk

sag

slack up

relaxation

die away

quagmire

quiet

slack water

negligent

falloff

mire

nerveless

fen

falling off

loosened

play

dullness

gravel

Translations

lâche

schlaff

flojo

aflojar

desserré

floscio

los

lento

debole

sornejar

remolejar

gravier

locker

flau

ronsejar

Pronounced as (IPA)

/slæk/

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English: slak

Inherited from Old English: slæc

Inherited from Middle English: slakken

Inherited from Old English: slacian

Cognate with Icelandic: slakki

Cognate with Norwegian: slakke

In summary

From Middle English slak, from Old English slæc (“slack”), from Proto-Germanic *slakaz. For sense of coal dust, compare slag.