1. adj., n., v., & adv.
--adj.
1. (of rope etc.) not taut.
2 inactive or sluggish.
3 negligent or remiss.
4 (of tide etc.) neither ebbing nor flowing.
5 (of trade or business or a market) with little happening.
6 loose.
7 Phonet. lax.
8 relaxed, languid.
--n.
1. the slack part of a rope (haul in the slack).
2 a slack time in trade etc.
3 colloq. a spell of inactivity or laziness.
4 (in pl.) full-length loosely-cut trousers for informal wear.
--v.
1. a tr. & intr. slacken. b tr. loosen (rope etc.).
2 intr. colloq. take a rest, be lazy.
3 tr. slake (lime).
--adv.
1. slackly.
2 slowly or insufficiently (dry slack; bake slack).
Phrases and idioms:
slack hand lack of full control in riding or governing. slack lime slaked lime. slack off
1. loosen.
2 lose or cause to lose vigour. slack rein slack hand. slack suit US casual clothes of slacks and a jacket or shirt. slack up reduce the speed of a train etc. before stopping. slack water a time near the turn of the tide, esp. at low tide. take up the slack use up a surplus or make up a deficiency; avoid an undesirable lull.
Derivatives:
slackly adv. slackness n.
Etymology: OE sl{aelig}c f. Gmc 2. n. coal-dust or small pieces of coal.
Etymology: ME prob. f. LG or Du.