/ slæk; NAmE / adjective , noun , verb
■ adjective ( slack·er , slack·est )
1.
not stretched tight
SYN loose :
She was staring into space, her mouth slack.
The rope suddenly went slack.
slack muscles
2.
( of business ) not having many customers or sales; not busy :
a slack period
3.
( disapproving ) not putting enough care, attention or energy into sth and so not doing it well enough :
He's been very slack in his work lately.
Discipline in the classroom is very slack.
► slack·ly adverb :
Her arms hung slackly by her sides.
► slack·ness noun [ U ]
■ noun [ U ]
—see also slacks
1.
the part of a rope, etc. that is hanging loosely :
There's too much slack in the tow rope.
2.
people, money or space that should be used more fully in an organization :
There's very little slack in the budget.
3.
very small pieces of coal
•
IDIOMS
- cut sb some slack
- take up the slack
■ verb
[ v ] to work less hard than you usually do or should do
•
PHRASAL VERBS
- slack off (on sth)
••
WORD ORIGIN
adjective and noun senses 1 to 2 verb Old English slæc inclined to be lazy, unhurried , of Germanic origin; related to Latin laxus loose.
noun sense 3 late Middle English : probably from Low German or Dutch .