SLACK | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Old English slæc ‘inclined to be lazy, unhurried’, of Germanic origin; related to Latin laxus ‘loose’

not taut or held tightly in position; loose

not taut or held tightly in position

• a slack rope
• her mouth went slack

(of business or trade) characterized by a lack of work or activity; quiet

(of business or trade) characterized by lack of work or activity

• business was rather slack

having or showing laziness or negligence

having or showing laziness or negligence

• slack accounting procedures

lewd

lewd

• the veteran king of slack chat

(of a tide) neither ebbing nor flowing

(of tide) neither ebbing nor flowing

• soon the water will become slack, and the tide will turn
• slack tides

the part of a rope or line which is not held taut; the loose or unused part

part of rope or line which is not held taut

• I picked up the rod and wound in the slack

a spell of inactivity or laziness

spell of inactivity or laziness

• he slept deeply, refreshed by a little slack in the daily routine

casual trousers

casual trousers

• he put on a grey shirt and loose cotton slacks

loosen (something, especially a rope)

loosen

• slacking the outhaul allows you to adjust the sail

decrease or reduce in intensity, quantity, or speed

decrease or reduce in intensity or speed

• the flow of blood slacked off
• the horse slacked his pace

work slowly or lazily

work slowly or lazily

• she ticked off her girls if they were slacking

slake (lime)

slake

• 150 sacks of lime were slacked by the inrushing water