Slack meaning

What does “slack” mean? Definitions, examples, synonyms and opposites.

“slack” is a noun, verb and adjective with 17 meanings. Its most common meaning is: dust consisting of a mixture of small coal fragments and coal dust and dirt that sifts out when coal is passed over a sieve.

slack

noun

dust consisting of a mixture of small coal fragments and coal dust and dirt that sifts out when coal is passed over a sieve
a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality
“the team went into a slump”
“a gradual slack in output”
Synonymsslump drop-off falloff falling off
a stretch of water without current or movement
“suddenly they were in a slack and the water was motionless”
Synonymsslack water
a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
Synonymsmire quagmire quag morass
the quality of being loose (not taut)
“he hadn't counted on the slackness of the rope”
Synonymsslackness
a cord or rope or cable that is hanging loosely
“he took up the slack”

verb

avoid responsibilities and work, be idle
be inattentive to, or neglect
“He slacks his attention”
release tension on
“slack the rope”
make less active or fast
“He slackened his pace as he got tired”
“Don't relax your efforts now”
Synonymsslacken slack up relax
become slow or slower
“Production slowed”
Synonymsslow slow down slow up slacken
make less active or intense
Synonymsslake abate
become less in amount or intensity
“The storm abated”
“The rain let up after a few hours”
Synonymsabate let up slack off die away
cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water
“slack lime”
Synonymsslake

adjective

not tense or taut
“the old man's skin hung loose and grey”
“slack and wrinkled skin”
Synonymsloose
flowing with little speed as e.g. at the turning of the tide
“slack water”
lacking in rigor or strictness
“such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable”
“lax in attending classes”
Synonymslax

Source: WordNet 3.1, Princeton University

More about “slack”

✦Synonyms for slack✦Words that rhyme with slack✦Unscramble SLACK