■ adjective
1》 moving or capable of moving only at a low speed.
↘lasting or taking a long time.
2》 (of a clock or watch) showing a time earlier than the correct time.
3》 not prompt to understand, think, or learn.
4》 uneventful and rather dull.
↘(of business) with little activity; slack.
5》 Photography (of a film) needing long exposure.
6》 (of a fire or oven) burning or giving off heat gently.
■ verb (often ~ down/up ) reduce one's speed or the speed of a vehicle or process.
↘live or work less actively or intensely.
Phrases
~ but (or and ) sure not quick but achieving the required result eventually.
Derivatives
~ish adjective
~ly adverb
~ness noun
Origin
OE slāw '~-witted, sluggish', of Gmc origin.
Usage
Slow is normally used as an adjective ( a ~ learner ). It is also used as an adverb in certain contexts, including compounds such as ~-acting and in the expression go ~ . Other adverbial use (e.g. he drives too ~ ) is informal and non-standard and in such contexts ~ly should be used instead.