(~er, ~est, ~s, ~ing, ~ed)
1.
Something that is ~ is loose and not firmly stretched or tightly in position.
The boy’s jaw went ~.
ADJ
2.
A ~ period is one in which there is not much work or activity.
The workload can be evened out, instead of the shop having busy times and ~ periods.
= quiet
ADJ
3.
Someone who is ~ in their work does not do it properly.
Many publishers have simply become far too ~.
ADJ disapproval
~ness
He accused the government of ~ness and complacency.
N-UNCOUNT
4.
If someone is ~ing, they are not working as hard as they should.
He had never let a foreman see him ~ing.
VERB: only cont, V disapproval
•
Slack off means the same as ~ .
If someone ~s off, Bill comes down hard.
PHRASAL VERB: V P
5.
To take up the ~ or pick up the ~ means to do or provide something that another person or organization is no longer doing or providing.
As major airlines give up less-traveled routes, smaller planes are picking up the ~.
PHRASE: V inflects