Slack - English meaning

verb

(of something unpleasant or severe) become less intense or widespread.

Usage examples:

The storm suddenly abated

verb

To become less strong

Usage examples:

The storm/wind/rain has started to abate., the fighting in the area shows no sign of abating.

adjective

(of clothing) loose and hanging in folds.

Usage examples:

Baggy trousers

noun

Loose, wide-legged trousers or shorts.

Usage examples:

Young men sport baggies low on their hips, exposing calvin klein boxers and a line of hair.

adjective

(of clothes) hanging loosely because of being too big or having been stretched

Usage examples:

A baggy sweater

verb

Separate or cause to separate into pieces as a result of a blow, shock, or strain.

Usage examples:

The branch broke with a loud snap

noun

An interruption of continuity or uniformity.

Usage examples:

The magazine has been published without a break since 1950

noun

Former term for breaking cart.

noun

A person or animal that breathes in a particular way.

Usage examples:

A heavy breather

noun

A short rest

Usage examples:

He'd been working hard and felt he needed (to take) a breather.

adjective

Not giving sufficient attention or thought to avoiding harm or errors.

Usage examples:

She had been careless and had left the window unlocked

adjective

Not taking or showing enough care and attention

Usage examples:

My son's teacher says that his work is often rather careless., he made a careless remark (= one mad…

adjective

Relaxed, natural, and free from worry

adjective

Relaxed and unconcerned.

Usage examples:

A casual attitude to life

noun

A person who does something irregularly.

Usage examples:

A number of casuals became regular customers

adjective

Not serious or careful in attitude; only partly interested

Usage examples:

A casual glance at a magazine, even to the casual observer, the forgery was obvious., we have a sma…

verb

Make or become smaller or fewer in size, amount, intensity, or degree.

Usage examples:

The population of the area has decreased radically

noun

An instance or example of becoming smaller or fewer.

Usage examples:

A decrease in births

verb

To become smaller or make something less

Usage examples:

[ i ] car sales decreased sharply this year., i haven’t noticed any decrease in ticket sales.

adjective

In a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect.

Usage examples:

A derelict georgian mansion

noun

A person without a home, job, or property.

Usage examples:

Derelicts who could fit all their possessions in a paper bag

adjective

(of buildings or equipment) not cared for and in bad condition

verb

Make or become less.

Usage examples:

The new law is expected to diminish the government's chances

verb

To reduce or be reduced in size or importance

Usage examples:

[ i ] the threat of inflation is diminishing., [ t ] a single-payer system would diminish the burea…

verb

To reduce or be reduced in size, importance, or value

Usage examples:

If consumers start losing confidence, it will diminish demand for household goods., investors can d…

adjective

Lacking organization; untidy.

Usage examples:

His life was as disorderly as ever

adjective

Threatening the safety of people or the peace of a neighborhood

Usage examples:

A disorderly crowd, he was charged with disorderly conduct., a disorderly desk

adjective

Untidy and badly organized

Usage examples:

It's a disorderly sort of a house with books and papers lying around everywhere.

adjective

Not properly planned and controlled.

Usage examples:

The campaign was hopelessly disorganized

verb

Disrupt the systematic order or functioning of.

adjective

Badly planned and lacking order

Usage examples:

According to one officer, things are so disorganized that no one knows who is where.

verb

Perform (an action, the precise nature of which is often unspecified).

Usage examples:

Very little work has been done in this field

noun

Used before a verb (except be, can, may, ought, shall, will ) in questions and negative statements.

Usage examples:

Do you have any pets?

noun

Variant spelling of doh1.

idiom

To not involve someone or something

Usage examples:

This argument has nothing to do with me., much of the bill has nothing to do with civil rights.

verb

Bend or hang downwards limply.

Usage examples:

A long black cloak drooped from his shoulders

noun

An act or instance of drooping; a limp or weary attitude.

Usage examples:

The exhausted droop of her shoulders

adjective

Bending or hanging down heavily

Usage examples:

Drooping branches, bloodhounds have drooping eyes and floppy ears.

adjective

Hanging down limply; drooping.

Usage examples:

A droopy moustache

adjective

Bending or hanging down heavily

Usage examples:

He had a long droopy moustache., it turns out droopy eyelids are a common sign of aging.

verb

Diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength.

Usage examples:

Traffic has dwindled to a trickle

verb

To become less in number or smaller

Usage examples:

The community had dwindled to a tenth of its former size.

verb

To gradually become less, smaller, or lower in level

Usage examples:

Dwindle from sth to sth the municipality's population has dwindled from 40,000 to 24,000., dwindlin…

noun

The movement of the tide out to sea.

Usage examples:

The tide was on the ebb

verb

(of tidewater) move away from the land; recede.

Usage examples:

The tide began to ebb

verb

When the sea or tide ebbs, it moves away from the coast and falls to a lower level.

phrasal verb

Come off

phrasal verb

To become less in number, amount, or quality

Usage examples:

Production fell off last month.

phrasal verb

To get lower in amount or level

Usage examples:

Orders have definitely fallen off in the past quarter., a fall-off in sth the company blamed the fa…

adjective

(of a part of a person's body) soft, loose, and fleshy.

Usage examples:

This exercise helps to flatten a flabby stomach

adjective

Soft and fat

Usage examples:

Flabby arms/thighs, i was starting to get a bit flabby around my waist., a flabby argument

adjective

Weak and without force

Usage examples:

A flabby argument

adjective

(of part of the body) soft and hanging loosely or limply, especially so as to look or feel unpleasant.

Usage examples:

She took his flaccid hand in hers

adjective

Soft or weak rather than firm

Usage examples:

The penis is usually in a flaccid state.

adjective

Weak and not effective

Usage examples:

The programme included a lacklustre and flaccid performance of berg's violin concerto.

verb

(of a bird) move (its wings) up and down when flying or preparing to fly.

Usage examples:

A pheasant flapped its wings

noun

A thin, flat piece of cloth, paper, metal, etc. that is hinged or attached on one side only and covers an opening or hangs down from something.

Usage examples:

The flap of the envelope

noun

An act of flapping something, typically a wing or arm, up and down or from side to side.

Usage examples:

The surviving bird made a few final despairing flaps

adjective

Capable of bending easily without breaking.

Usage examples:

Flexible rubber seals

adjective

Able to change or be changed easily according to the situation

Usage examples:

I’m fortunate because my job has flexible hours, and i can come and go pretty much as i want., the …

adjective

A flexible person or company can work in different ways, at different times, or in different places when it is necessary

Usage examples:

How can we encourage employees to be more flexible?, be flexible about sth companies can now be mor…

verb

Freely transfer the possession of (something) to (someone).

Usage examples:

She gave him presents and clothes

noun

Capacity to bend or alter in shape under pressure.

Usage examples:

Plastic pots that have enough give to accommodate the vigorous roots

Transfer possession of something concrete or abstract

noun

The practice of hanging condemned people as a form of capital punishment.

Usage examples:

Controversial cross-party issues such as abortion and hanging

adjective

Suspended in the air.

Usage examples:

Hanging palls of smoke

verb

Suspend or be suspended from above with the lower part dangling free.

Usage examples:

That's where people are supposed to hang their washing

noun

A pause or break in continuity in a sequence or activity.

Usage examples:

There was a brief hiatus in the war with france

noun

A short pause in which nothing happens, or a space where something no longer is

Usage examples:

Peace talks resumed this week after a five-month hiatus.

noun

A short pause in which nothing happens or is said, or a space where something is missing

Usage examples:

The company expects to resume production of the vehicle again after a two-month hiatus.

adjective

(of a person) avoiding work; lazy.

Usage examples:

Idle students

verb

Spend time doing nothing.

Usage examples:

Four men were idling outside the shop

adjective

Not working, not active, or doing nothing

Usage examples:

Idle factories, the machines are standing idle because there are no spare parts., idle speculation,…

adjective

Not paying attention to something.

Usage examples:

A particularly dull and inattentive pupil

adjective

Not listening to what is being said or giving your attention to what is happening

Usage examples:

Barbara has been inattentive in class lately.

adjective

Not giving attention to someone or something

Usage examples:

Inattentive to he was wholly inattentive to the needs of his children.

adjective

Not having or showing the necessary skills to do something successfully.

Usage examples:

A forgetful and utterly incompetent assistant

noun

An incompetent person.

Usage examples:

The tanker captain was a known incompetent

adjective

Lacking the skills or knowledge to do a job or perform an action correctly or to a satisfactory standard

Usage examples:

Cowden was incompetent and incapable of administering the duties of secretary of the association., …

adjective

Not achieving maximum productivity; wasting or failing to make the best use of time or resources.

Usage examples:

Inefficient transport systems

Not producing desired results; wasteful

adjective

Wasting time, money, energy, or other valuable possessions or qualities

Usage examples:

Many of their industries are hopelessly inefficient., she promised to end government inefficiency.,…

noun

An intervening time.

Usage examples:

After his departure, there was an interval of many years without any meetings

noun

A period between two events or times, or the space between two points

Usage examples:

If there is a fire, the alarm will sound at 15-second intervals., we’ve positioned guards around th…

noun

A period between two events or times

Usage examples:

We see each other at regular intervals - usually about once a month.

adjective

Lacking enthusiasm and determination; carelessly lazy.

Usage examples:

A lackadaisical defence left spurs adrift in the second half

adjective

Lacking enthusiasm and effort

Usage examples:

The food wasn’t bad but the service was lackadaisical.

adjective

Showing little enthusiasm and effort

Usage examples:

The food was nice enough but the service was somewhat lackadaisical.

adjective

Not sufficiently strict, severe, or careful.

Usage examples:

Lax security arrangements at the airport

noun

Lacrosse.

Usage examples:

I wore pads and a helmet whenever i played lax

adjective

Lacking care, attention, or control; not severe or strong enough

Usage examples:

Security at the airport seemed lax., laxity in enforcing safety regulations can cost lives.

adjective

Unwilling to work or use energy.

Usage examples:

He was too lazy to cook

verb

Make or become less; diminish.

Usage examples:

The years have lessened the gap in age between us

verb

To become or make something smaller in amount or degree

Usage examples:

[ t ] keeping your weight down can lessen the risk of heart disease.

verb

To make something smaller, less noticeable, etc., or to become smaller, less noticeable, etc.

Usage examples:

Corporate executives are keen to embrace "green technology" in order to lessen their dependence on …

idiom

Become less in amount or intensity

phrasal verb

(of something undesirable) become less intense.

Usage examples:

The rain's letting up—it'll be clear soon

phrasal verb

(esp. of something unpleasant) to become less strong or stop

Usage examples:

When the rain lets up we’ll go for a walk.

verb

Walk with difficulty, typically because of a damaged or stiff leg or foot.

Usage examples:

He limped heavily as he moved

noun

A tendency to limp; a gait impeded by injury or stiffness.

Usage examples:

The accident left him with a pronounced limp

adjective

Lacking internal strength or structure; not stiff or firm.

Usage examples:

She let her whole body go limp

adjective

Not firmly or tightly fixed in place; detached or able to be detached.

Usage examples:

A loose tooth

noun

Loose play.

Usage examples:

He was in powerful form in the loose

verb

Set free; release.

Usage examples:

The hounds have been loosed

adjective

Loose-fitting clothing is quite large and does not fit tightly

Usage examples:

A loose-fitting shirt

noun

The fact that something is not firmly held in place

verb

Calm or send to sleep, typically with soothing sounds or movements.

Usage examples:

The rhythm of the boat lulled her to sleep

noun

A temporary interval of quiet or lack of activity.

Usage examples:

For two days there had been a lull in the fighting

verb

To cause someone to feel calm, sleepy, or safe

Usage examples:

The music lulled the infant to sleep., we were all lulled into thinking they wouldn't do anything.,…

adjective

Average in amount, intensity, quality, or degree.

Usage examples:

We walked at a moderate pace

noun

A person who holds moderate views, especially in politics.

Usage examples:

An unlikely alliance of radicals and moderates

verb

Make or become less extreme, intense, rigorous, or violent.

Usage examples:

I shall not moderate my criticism

adjective

Not giving proper care or attention to someone or something.

Usage examples:

You are being neglectful of our guests

adjective

Not giving enough care and attention to something or someone

Usage examples:

I'm sure my boss thinks i've been neglectful of my duties recently.

adjective

Failing to take proper care over something.

Usage examples:

The council had been negligent in its supervision of the children in care

adjective

Failing to be careful enough or to give enough attention to your responsibilities, esp. when this results in harm or loss to others

Usage examples:

She charged her landlord with negligence for not repairing leaks that ruined her rugs.

adjective

Not giving enough care or attention to someone or something that you are responsible for

Usage examples:

It was necessary to prove that the manager had been negligent., be negligent in (doing) sth the cou…

adjective

Ungraciously or offensively nonchalant or cool in manner.

Usage examples:

You were a bit offhand with her this afternoon

adverb

Without previous thought or consideration.

Usage examples:

I can't think of a better answer offhand

adverb

Now, without looking for information or without taking the time to consider carefully

Usage examples:

I can’t tell you the exact number offhand, but it was something like $25,000., offhand remarks, his…

adjective

Bigger than the usual size.

Usage examples:

An oversized t-shirt

verb

Interrupt action or speech briefly.

Usage examples:

She paused, at a loss for words

noun

A temporary stop in action or speech.

Usage examples:

She dropped me outside during a brief pause in the rain

verb

Cease an action temporarily

verb

Engage in activity for enjoyment and recreation rather than a serious or practical purpose.

Usage examples:

The children were playing by a pool

noun

Activity engaged in for enjoyment and recreation, especially by children.

Usage examples:

A child at play may use a stick as an aeroplane

verb

Engage in recreational activities rather than work

adjective

Easily bent.

Usage examples:

Pliant willow stems

adjective

Pliant people are easily influenced or controlled by other people

Usage examples:

I don't think it's a good thing for children to be too pliant., the management has adopted a more p…

verb

Go or move back or further away from a previous position.

Usage examples:

The floodwaters had receded

verb

Make smaller or less in amount, degree, or size.

Usage examples:

The need for businesses to reduce costs

verb

Make smaller

verb

To make something less in size, amount, degree, importance, or price

Usage examples:

A low-fat diet can reduce the risk of heart disease., grunn employs 17,900 people, but that number …

verb

Make or become less tense or anxious.

Usage examples:

He relaxed and smiled confidently

verb

Make less taut

verb

To become or cause someone to become calm and comfortable, and not worried or nervous, or to become or cause a muscle or the body to become less tight

Usage examples:

[ i ] she saw a need for a downtown club where women could relax., [ t ] this exercise will help yo…

adjective

Free from tension and anxiety.

Usage examples:

We were having a great time and feeling very relaxed

verb

Make or become less tense or anxious.

Usage examples:

He relaxed and smiled confidently

adjective

Lacking care or attention to duty; negligent.

Usage examples:

It would be very remiss of me not to pass on that information

adjective

Not doing a duty carefully or well enough

Usage examples:

I would be remiss if i didn’t mention it.

noun

A short period of rest or relief from something difficult or unpleasant.

Usage examples:

The refugee encampments will provide some respite from the suffering

verb

Postpone (a sentence, obligation, etc.).

Usage examples:

The execution was only respited a few months

noun

A pause or rest from something difficult or unpleasant

Usage examples:

[ c usually sing ] the center provides a respite for teens in trouble.

adjective

(especially of accommodation) having plenty of room; spacious.

Usage examples:

The cabin is roomy and well planned

adjective

Having a lot of space

Usage examples:

Her new apartment is very roomy.

adjective

Sinking or bulging downwards under weight or pressure or through lack of strength.

Usage examples:

Sagging shelves bearing rusty paint tins

verb

Sink, subside, or bulge downwards under weight or pressure or through lack of strength.

Usage examples:

She let her head sag lower and lower

adjective

Lower or less strong

Usage examples:

He said he cut taxes by $9 billion as mayor in an effort to revitalize the city's sagging economy.,…

adjective

Tending to sink or bulge downwards under weight or pressure.

Usage examples:

The saggy mattress groaned under my weight

adjective

Hanging or dropping down to a lower level

Usage examples:

I have a lot of saggy skin on my stomach since i lost weight.

adjective

(especially of a garment) lacking a distinctive or attractive shape.

Usage examples:

She wore a shapeless frock and no make-up

adjective

(of an object) not having an appearance that you consider clear, pleasing, or correct

Usage examples:

Summer and winter she wore the same array of faded gingham dresses and shapeless sweaters.

verb

Avoid or neglect (a duty or responsibility).

Usage examples:

I do not shirk any responsibility in this matter

noun

A person who shirks.

Usage examples:

His status as a shirk would normally render him somewhat of a pariah.

verb

Avoid work or a duty by staying away or leaving early; shirk.

Usage examples:

I skived off school

noun

An instance of avoiding work or a duty by staying away or leaving early.

Usage examples:

‘i decided to give blood because it was a good skive out of the railway and after you'd donated you…

verb

Pare (the edge of a piece of leather or other material) so as to reduce its thickness.

Usage examples:

To join two ends of a strap, the ends are skived

verb

Make or become slack.

Usage examples:

He slackened his grip

verb

Become slow or slower

verb

To loosen something, or to become loose

Usage examples:

[ i ] his muscles slackened under the steaming shower., [ t ] let’s slacken our pace a little.

adjective

Done too hurriedly and carelessly.

Usage examples:

He gave a slapdash performance

adverb

Hurriedly and carelessly.

Usage examples:

His cabin bordering the upper buffalo river wilderness in the ozarks of northwest arkansas is slapd…

idiom

Marked by great carelessness

adjective

Characterized by a lack of care, thought, or organization.

Usage examples:

He'd caused many problems with his slipshod management

adjective

Showing lack of effort and attention

Usage examples:

Slipshod repairs

adjective

Careless and unsystematic; excessively casual.

Usage examples:

We gave away a goal through sloppy defending

adjective

Messy or lacking care or attention

Usage examples:

Sloppy clothes, a sloppy administrator, sloppy weather, her grandchildren nearly smothered her with…

adjective

Very wet or liquid, often in a way that is unpleasant

Usage examples:

The batter was a bit sloppy so i added some more flour., she covered his face with sloppy kisses.

adjective

Moving or operating, or designed to do so, only at a low speed; not quick or fast.

Usage examples:

Until recently diesel cars were slow and noisy

adverb

At a slow pace; slowly.

Usage examples:

The train went slower and slower

verb

Reduce one's speed or the speed of a vehicle or process.

Usage examples:

The train slowed to a halt

adjective

Easy to mould, cut, compress, or fold; not hard or firm to the touch.

Usage examples:

Soft margarine

adverb

(of a consonant) pronounced as a fricative (as c in ice ).

adjective

Not hard or firm; changing its shape when pressed

Usage examples:

The crabs are plucked from the water before their soft shells have had a chance to harden., the bab…

verb

Become less intense, violent, or severe.

Usage examples:

I'll wait a few minutes until the storm subsides

verb

(of a condition) to become less strong, or (of an activity or disagreement) to become less violent

Usage examples:

When her pain didn’t subside, matt drove her to the hospital., friction between the groups subsided…

idiom

To relax and not work too hard

Usage examples:

My doctor told me to take things easy for a while.

verb

(of the moon) have a progressively smaller part of its visible surface illuminated, so that it appears to decrease in size.

Usage examples:

Tory tried to see her reflection, but the moon was waning, the stars obscured by clouds.

noun

The amount by which a plank or log is bevelled or falls short of a squared shape.

Usage examples:

I cut the log into slabs without removing the outside wane