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slack

slack [ slak ]


adjective  (comparative slack·er, superlative slack·est)
Definition:
 
1. not tight: not tight or stretched taut, but hanging loosely or having a good deal of give
The reins are too slack.

2. not showing enough care: not showing enough care, attention, or rigor
They've been rather slack about keeping to performance targets.

3. not busy: not busy or active, or less busy than usual
the slack period following the main tourist season

4. moving slowly: moving slowly or sluggishly

5. phonetics 
Same as  lax (sense 4)




adverb 
Definition:
 
loosely: in a loose or limp way
His clothes hung slack on him.



noun  (plural slacks)
Definition:
 
1. looseness: looseness or give in something such as a rope, or the extra length or fullness in it that needs to be taken in to make it taut

2. unused potential: productive potential in an organization or system that is not being fully made use of
take in some of the slack in the administrative division

3. quiet time: a period of time that is not busy

4. still water: a stretch of water that is still or moving only slowly



plural noun slacks 
Definition:
 
pants: casual pants, especially loose-fitting ones



verb  (past and past participle slacked, present participle slack·ing, 3rd person present singular slacks)
Definition:
 
1. intransitive verb avoid work: to be lazy, avoid work, or work with insufficient vigor or concentration

2. transitive verb neglect something: to neglect something such as duty, or leave something undone

3. transitive and intransitive verb 
Same as  slacken (sense 1)


4. transitive and intransitive verb chemistry 
Same as  slake (sense 2)


[ Old English slæc< Indo-European, "be loose"]

slack·ly adverb
slack·ness noun
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