Definition of Slack

1. 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.

Generic synonyms: Debris, Detritus, Dust, Junk, Rubble

2. Verb. Avoid responsibilities and work, be idle.
Generic synonyms: Fiddle, Goldbrick, Shirk, Shrink From
Derivative terms: Slacker, Slacking

3. Adjective. Not tense or taut. "A slack rope"
Exact synonyms: Loose
Similar to: Lax
Derivative terms: Looseness, Slackness

4. Noun. A noticeable deterioration in performance or quality. "A falloff in quality"

5. Verb. Be inattentive to, or neglect. "He slacks his attention"
Generic synonyms: Neglect
Derivative terms: Slacking

6. Adjective. Flowing with little speed as e.g. at the turning of the tide. "Slack water"
Similar to: Standing

7. Noun. A stretch of water without current or movement. "Suddenly they were in a slack and the water was motionless"
Exact synonyms: Slack Water
Generic synonyms: Stretch

8. Verb. Release tension on. "Slack the rope"
Generic synonyms: Loose, Loosen

9. Adjective. Lacking in rigor or strictness. "Slack in maintaining discipline"
Exact synonyms: Lax
Similar to: Negligent
Derivative terms: Laxity, Laxness, Slackness

10. Noun. A soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot.
Exact synonyms: Mire, Morass, Quag, Quagmire
Generic synonyms: Bog, Peat Bog
Derivative terms: Mire, Mire, Mire, Miry, Quaggy

11. Verb. Make less active or fast. "Don't relax your efforts now"
Exact synonyms: Relax, Slack Up, Slacken
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Lessen, Minify
Derivative terms: Relaxation

12. Noun. The quality of being loose (not taut). "He hadn't counted on the slackness of the rope"
Exact synonyms: Slackness
Generic synonyms: Looseness, Play

13. Verb. Become slow or slower. "Production slowed"
Exact synonyms: Slacken, Slow, Slow Down, Slow Up
Generic synonyms: Weaken
Derivative terms: Slowing, Slowdown

14. Noun. A cord or rope or cable that is hanging loosely. "He took up the slack"
Generic synonyms: Cord

15. Verb. Make less active or intense.
Exact synonyms: Abate, Slake
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Lessen, Minify
Derivative terms: Abatable, Abator

16. Verb. Become less in amount or intensity. "The rain let up after a few hours"
Exact synonyms: Abate, Die Away, Let Up, Slack Off
Generic synonyms: Decrease, Diminish, Fall, Lessen
Derivative terms: Abatement, Letup

17. Verb. Cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water. "Slack lime"
Exact synonyms: Slake
Generic synonyms: Hydrate
Specialized synonyms: Air-slake

Definition of Slack

1. n. Small coal; also, coal dust; culm.

2. n. A valley, or small, shallow dell.

3. a. Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly extended; as, a slack rope.

4. adv. Slackly; as, slack dried hops.

5. n. The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it; as, the slack of a rope or of a sail.

6. v. i. To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather.

7. v. t. To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage.

Definition of Slack

1. Noun. Small coal; coal dust. ¹

2. Noun. A valley, or small, shallow dell. ¹

3. Noun. The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it. ¹

4. Noun. A tidal marsh or shallow, that periodically fills and drains. ¹

5. Adjective. Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly extended. ¹

6. Adjective. Weak; not holding fast. ¹

7. Adjective. Remiss; backward; not using due diligence or care; not earnest or eager. ¹

8. Adjective. Not violent, rapid, or pressing. ¹

9. Adverb. Slackly. ¹

10. Verb. (obsolete) To mitigate; to reduce the strength of. ¹

11. Verb. (context: followed by “off”) to procrastinate; to be lazy ¹

12. Verb. (context: followed by “off”) to refuse or dislike exerting effort ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Slack

1. not tight or taut [adj SLACKER, SLACKEST] / to slacken [v -ED, -ING, -S] - See also: slacken

Lexicographical Neighbors of Slack

slabbed
slabber
slabbered
slabberer
slabberers
slabbering
slabbers
slabbery
slabbier
slabbiest
slabbiness
slabbing
slabby
slablike
slabs
slack (current term)
slack-jawed
slack off
slack suit
slack tide
slack tub
slack up
slack water
slackard
slackards
slackcom
slackcoms
slacked
slacken
slacken off

Literary usage of Slack

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine (1819)
"Monsieur, on the first set-to, darted with uncommon fury at slack, and seized him by the throat, and for half a minute held him tight by the rails, ..."

2. The Annual Register, Or, A View of the History, Politics, and Literature for by Edmund Burke (1817)
"slack and Othert, by their Guardian, v. slack.—This was a proceeding relative to the will of Thomas Cartwright slack, Esq. late of Gravel-lane, Aldgate, ..."

3. Capital (1888)
"That credit should contract in the slack season and expand in the busy season is a safe and simple rule for many, and they would view any deviation with ..."

4. Coal Mining in Arkansas by Alvin Arthur Steel (1910)
"Proportion of slack increased. The law has made the companies powerless to regulate the amount of their coal which is shot into slack, with the result that ..."

5. The Parliamentary Debatesby Great Britain Parliament by Great Britain Parliament (1905)
"slack said he would accept those words, and begged leave to withdraw his Amendment. ... slack then moved a further new clause 'dealing with the audit of ..."

6. Lawyers' Reports Annotated by Lawyers Co-operative Publishing Company (1905)
"Said slack, dirt and refuse was, during the time mentioned, carried by Sugar Run and its tributaries into and along Monday Creek, filling up the channel ..."

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