Slack water

Slack water
Slack Slack, a. [Compar. {Slacker}; superl. {Slackest}.] [OE. slak, AS. sleac; akin to OS. slak, OHG. slah, Prov. G. schlack, Icel. slakr, Sw. slak; cf. Skr. s[.r]j to let loose, to throw. Cf. {Slake}.] Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly extended; as, a slack rope. [1913 Webster]

2. Weak; not holding fast; as, a slack hand. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

3. Remiss; backward; not using due diligence or care; not earnest or eager; as, slack in duty or service. [1913 Webster]

The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness. --2 Pet. iii. 9. [1913 Webster]

4. Not violent, rapid, or pressing; slow; moderate; easy; as, business is slack. ``With slack pace.'' --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

C?sar . . . about sunset, hoisting sail with a slack southwest, at midnight was becalmed. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

{Slack in stays} (Naut.), slow in going about, as a ship.

{Slack water}, the time when the tide runs slowly, or the water is at rest; or the interval between the flux and reflux of the tide.

{Slack-water navigation}, navigation in a stream the depth of which has been increased, and the current diminished, by a dam or dams. [1913 Webster]

Syn: Loose; relaxed; weak; remiss; backward; abated; diminished; inactive; slow; tardy; dull. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Slack water — Slack water, or slack tide, is the period during which no appreciable tidal current flows in a body of water. Slack water usually happens near high tide and low tide, and occurs when the direction of the tidal current reverses.… …   Wikipedia

  • slack water — n. 1. the period between tides when the water is neither in ebb nor flood 2. any stretch of water having little or no current …   English World dictionary

  • slack-water — I. ˈ ̷ ̷| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ adjective Etymology: slack water 1. : marked by slack water a slack water period 2. : carried on in slack water produced artificially (as by a lock or dam) slack water navigation II …   Useful english dictionary

  • Slack-water navigation — Slack Slack, a. [Compar. {Slacker}; superl. {Slackest}.] [OE. slak, AS. sleac; akin to OS. slak, OHG. slah, Prov. G. schlack, Icel. slakr, Sw. slak; cf. Skr. s[.r]j to let loose, to throw. Cf. {Slake}.] Lax; not tense; not hard drawn; not firmly… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • slack water — slack′ wa′ter n. 1) oce a period when a body of water is between tides 2) oce water that is free of currents • Etymology: 1760–70 …   From formal English to slang

  • slack water — noun 1. a stretch of water without current or movement suddenly they were in a slack and the water was motionless • Syn: ↑slack • Derivationally related forms: ↑slack (for: ↑slack) • Hypernyms …   Useful english dictionary

  • slack water — noun Date: 1764 the period at the turn of the tide when there is little or no horizontal motion of tidal water called also slack tide …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • slack water — 1) the period at high or low tide when there is no visible flow of water 2) an area in a sea or river unaffected by currents; still water …   Dictionary of ichthyology

  • slack water — 1. a period when a body of water is between tides. 2. water that is free of currents. [1760 70] * * * …   Universalium

  • slack water — still water; water between high and low tide …   English contemporary dictionary

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