slack
slack Lexical Profile
slack Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Not taut or held tightly in position; hanging loosely.
"The sailors pulled on the slack rope until the sail was secure."
Careless, negligent, or lacking in diligence and effort.
"The auditor criticized the department for its slack accounting practices."
Having few transactions or little activity; sluggish or quiet (especially of business or trade).
"Retailers often offer steep discounts during the slack winter months."
• noun
The part of a rope, line, or fabric that hangs loose without being pulled taut.
"He turned the winch slowly to take up the slack in the cable."
A spell of inactivity, laziness, or reduced business; unused capacity or leniency.
"When two team members fell ill, the rest of the staff worked overtime to pick up the slack."
Small coal or coal dust remaining after larger pieces have been screened out.
"The furnace was designed to burn cheap slack rather than large lumps of coal."
• verb
To work more slowly or with less effort and care than usual; to shirk one's duty.
"With final exams approaching, the students knew they could not afford to slack."
To loosen or decrease the tension of (a rope, cord, or muscle).
"The climber slacked the safety line once she reached the broad ledge."
To decrease in vigor, speed, or intensity.
"Demand for summer apparel usually slacks toward the end of August."
• adverb
Loosely; without being pulled taut or tight.
"The reins hung slack in the exhausted rider's hands."
• Rhymes for slack
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Old English 'slæc', meaning lazy, indolent, or careless, from Proto-Germanic '*slakaz' (loose). It shares an Indo-European root with Latin 'laxus', the source of English 'lax' and 'relax'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.