I. slave 1 /sleɪv/ BrE AmE noun [countable]
[ Date: 1200-1300 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: esclave , from Medieval Latin sclavus , from Sclavus ( ⇨ ↑ Slavic ); because in the early Middle Ages many Slavic people in central Europe were slaves ]
1 . someone who is owned by another person and works for them for no money
the slave trade (=the buying and selling of slaves, especially Africans who were taken to America)
2 . be a slave to/of something to be so strongly influenced by something that you cannot make your own decisions – used to show disapproval:
a slave to fashion
II. slave 2 BrE AmE verb [intransitive always + adverb/preposition]
to work very hard with little time to rest
slave away (at something)
I’ve been slaving away at this report.
slave over
He’s been slaving over his history essay.
slave (away) over a hot stove (=cook – used humorously)