I. ˈslāk, in sense vi 3 & vt 4 “ or ˈslak; chiefly dial in other senses ˈslak verb
( -ed/-ing/-s )
Etymology: Middle English slaken, from Old English slacian, sleacian, from sleac slack — more at slack
intransitive verb
1. obsolete : to slacken one's efforts : flag , slack 1a
2. archaic : to become less violent, intense, or severe : grow less : abate , moderate
no flood by raining slaketh — Shakespeare
3. : to become slaked : crumble , disintegrate
lime may slake spontaneously in moist air
transitive verb
1. obsolete : slack 2
2.
a. obsolete : to make less : reduce in quantity or size : diminish
b. archaic : to cause to be less acute : ease , mitigate
c. : to cause to lessen (as in vigor, speed, force) : lessen the violence or fury of : moderate
unwilling to slake his anger
3.
a. : to bring (as thirst) to an end with or as if with refreshing drink : satisfy , allay
slaked our curiosity with an account of the night's happenings
also : to make moist : wet
land slaked with blood
slaking our dry throats with melted snow
b. : to put out (as a fire) or cause to burn less strongly : deaden
slaking all earthly desires
4.
a. : to cause (as lime) to heat and crumble by treatment with water : hydrate
b. : to alter (as lime) by exposure to air with conversion at least in part to a carbonate : air-slake
II. ˈslāk, ˈslak — see slake I noun
( -s )
Etymology: Middle English slak, from slaken to slake
: an act or an instance of slaking
III. ˈslāk noun
also slake kale
( -s )
Etymology: slake from Middle English slak, alteration of slauk, probably from Middle Irish sleabhac edible seaweed, slake
Britain : sloke 1 ; also : any of various confervoid freshwater algae
IV. ˈslāk transitive verb
Etymology: alteration of earlier slaik to lick, daub, of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Swedish slekja to lick, Old Norse sleikja — more at lick
chiefly Scotland : daub , besmear
V. ˈslāk noun
( -s )
Etymology: by alteration
: slack V