I. slump 1 /slʌmp/ BrE AmE verb [intransitive]
[ Date: 1600-1700 ; Origin: Probably from a Scandinavian language ]
1 . to fall or lean against something because you are not strong enough to stand
slump against/over/back etc
She slumped against the wall.
Carol slumped back in her chair, defeated.
Ben staggered and slumped onto the floor.
2 . to suddenly go down in price, value, or number OPP soar :
Sales slumped by 20% last year.
slump to
The currency slumped to a record low.
3 . ( also be slumped ) if your shoulders or head slump or are slumped, they bend forward because you are unhappy, tired, or unconscious:
Her shoulders slumped and her eyes filled with tears.
II. slump 2 BrE AmE noun [countable usually singular]
1 . a sudden decrease in prices, sales, profits etc
slump in
a slump in car sales
2 . a period when there is a reduction in business and many people lose their jobs OPP boom :
The war was followed by an economic slump.
a worldwide slump
3 . especially American English a period when a player or team does not play well
in a slump
The Dodgers have been in a slump for the last three weeks.
• • •
THESAURUS
▪ recession a period when a country’s economic growth stops and there is less trade:
The industry has cut jobs due to the recession.
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fears that the economy may be sliding into recession
▪ depression a long period during which there is a bad recession, so that there is very little business activity and a lot of people do not have jobs:
During the depression of the 1930s, as many as 20% of the population were jobless.
▪ slump a fairly short period when there is a reduction in business and many people lose their jobs:
The slump in the housing market is making it difficult for people to sell their homes.
▪ slowdown a period when there is a reduction in business activity, that may be the start of a recession:
High prices could tip the slowdown in the US into a world recession.
▪ downturn a period during which there is a reduction in business activity and economic conditions become worse, when before the economy was growing:
Public spending may reduce the effects of the downturn.
▪ crash an occasion when the value of stocks and shares on a stock market falls suddenly and by a large amount, causing economic problems:
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 was disastrous for not only the American economy, but for the world economy.