Webster's English Dictionary

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slack

Cross references:
  1. negligent             
 
1. slack \'slak\ aj [ME slak, fr. OE sleac; akin to OHG slah slack, L 
   laxus] slack, loose, langue-re to languish, Gk le-gein to stop 1: not using 
   due diligence, care, or dispatch : NEGLIGENT  2a: characterized by 
   slowness, sluggishness, or lack of energy {~  pace} 2b: moderate in some 
   quality; esp : moderately warm {~ ove n} 2c: blowing or flowing at low 
   speed {~ tide}  3a: not tight : not tense or taut : RELAXED {~ rope}  3b: 
   lacking in firmness : WEAK, SOFT {~ control}  4: wanting in activity : DULL 
   {~ season}  5: lacking in completeness, finish, or perfection  6: not 
   watertight {~ cooperage}  - slack.ly av
2. slack vt 1a: to be slack or negligent in performing or doing  1b: 
   LESSEN, MODERATE  2: to release tension on : LOOSEN  3a: to cause to abate  
   3b: SLAKE  1: to be or become slack  2: to shirk or evade work or duty 
3. slack n 1: cessation in movement or flow  2: a part of something that 
   hangs loose without strain {take up the ~)R of a rope} pl  3: trousers esp. 
   for casual wear  4: a dull season or period : LULL 
4. slack n [ME slak, fr. ON slakki] dial Eng  : a pass between hills : GLEN 
5. slack n [ME sleck] : the finest screenings of coal produced at a mine 
   unusable as fuel unless  cleaned