slack a rope

  • 11Slack — Slack, n. The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it; as, the slack of a rope or of a sail. [1913 Webster] …

    The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • 12slack — slack, slacken Both words have been in use since the 16c, and remain interchangeable in many meanings. There are, however, some areas of preference: slacken is generally more dominant in the sense ‘to make or become slack (or slacker)’: a breeze …

    Modern English usage

  • 13slack|age — «SLAK ihj», noun. the amount allowed for the droop or sag of a rope or cable when not fully strained; slack …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 14slack — slack1 [ slæk ] adjective 1. ) loose and not pulled tight: The fence consisted of two slack strands of barbed wire. The rope suddenly went slack. Her muscles felt slack. 2. ) not taking enough care to make sure something is done well: slack… …

    Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • 15slack — I UK [slæk] / US adjective Word forms slack : adjective slack comparative slacker superlative slackest 1) loose and not pulled tight The fence consisted of two slack strands of barbed wire. The rope suddenly went slack. Her muscles felt slack. 2) …

    English dictionary

  • 16slack — slack1 slackingly, adv. slackly, adv. slackness, n. /slak/, adj. 1. not tight, taut, firm, or tense; loose: a slack rope. 2. negligent; careless; remiss: slack proofreading. 3. slow, sluggish, or indolent: He is slack in answering letters …

    Universalium

  • 17slack — I [[t]slæk[/t]] adj. slack•er, slack•est, adv. n. v. adj. 1) not tight, taut, firm, or tense; loose: a slack rope[/ex] 2) negligent; careless; remiss 3) slow, sluggish, or indolent: slack in answering letters[/ex] 4) not active or busy; dull; not …

    From formal English to slang

  • 18slack — I. /slæk / (say slak) adjective 1. not tense or taut; loose: slack rope. 2. indolent; negligent; remiss. 3. slow; sluggish. 4. lacking in activity; dull; not brisk: slack times for business. 5. sluggish, as the water, tide, or wind. 6. Colloquial …

  • 19slack — 1. adj., n., v., & adv. adj. 1 (of rope etc.) not taut. 2 inactive or sluggish. 3 negligent or remiss. 4 (of tide etc.) neither ebbing nor flowing. 5 (of trade or business or a market) with little happening. 6 loose. 7 Phonet. lax. 8 relaxed,… …

    Useful english dictionary

  • 20slack — slack1 [slæk] adj [: Old English; Origin: sleac] 1.) hanging loosely, or not pulled tight ≠ ↑taut ▪ Keep the rope slack until I tell you to pull it. 2.) with less business activity than usual ▪ Business remained slack throughout the day. 3.) not… …

    Dictionary of contemporary English