Slacken

Slacken
Slack Slack, Slacken Slack"en, v. i. [imp. & p. p. {Slacked}, {Slackened}; p. pr. & vb. n. {Slacking}, {Slackening}.] [See {Slack}, a.] 1. To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather. [1913 Webster]

2. To be remiss or backward; to be negligent. [1913 Webster]

3. To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake; as, lime slacks. [1913 Webster]

4. To abate; to become less violent. [1913 Webster]

Whence these raging fires Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. --Milton. [1913 Webster]

5. To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as, a current of water slackens. [1913 Webster]

6. To languish; to fail; to flag. [1913 Webster]

7. To end; to cease; to desist; to slake. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]

That through your death your lineage should slack. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]

They will not of that firste purpose slack. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • slacken — slack‧en [ˈslækən] also slacken off verb [intransitive, transitive] to gradually become weaker or less active, or to make something do this: • As business slackens, accounting firms are reducing their professional staffs and shaking up office… …   Financial and business terms

  • slacken — [slak′ən] vi. [< SLACK1] 1. to become less active, intense, brisk, etc. [slackening trade] 2. to become less tense; loosen, as rope vt. 1. to reduce the intensity or severity of; retard; abate; moderate 2. to reduce the tension of; relax; loos …   English World dictionary

  • Slacken — Slack en, n. (Metal.) A spongy, semivitrifled substance which miners or smelters mix with the ores of metals to prevent their fusion. [Written also {slakin}.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • slacken — index alleviate, commute, decrease, delay, ease, hold up (delay), impede, lessen …   Law dictionary

  • slacken — (v.) c.1300, from SLACK (Cf. slack) (adj.) + EN (Cf. en) (1). Related: Slackened; slackening …   Etymology dictionary

  • slacken — *delay, retard, slow, detain Analogous words: abate, reduce, lessen, *decrease: *restrain, curb, check, inhibit: *moderate, temper, qualify Antonyms: quicken …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Slacken — Balancieren auf der Slackline Slacken (Slacklinen, Slacklining) ist eine Trendsportart ähnlich dem Seiltanzen, bei der man auf einem Schlauchband oder Gurtband balanciert, das zwischen zwei Befestigungspunkten gespannt ist. Im Gegensatz zum… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • slacken — slack|en [ slækən ] verb intransitive or transitive 1. ) slacken or slacken off to become slower or less active, or make something become slower or less active: Interest in the project shows no sign of slackening. He slackened his pace. 2. ) to… …   Usage of the words and phrases in modern English

  • slacken — [[t]slæ̱kən[/t]] slackens, slackening, slackened 1) V ERG If something slackens or if you slacken it, it becomes slower, less active, or less intense. Inflationary pressures continued to slacken last month... [V n] The Conservative government… …   English dictionary

  • slacken — UK [ˈslækən] / US verb [intransitive/transitive] Word forms slacken : present tense I/you/we/they slacken he/she/it slackens present participle slackening past tense slackened past participle slackened 1) slacken or slacken off to become slower… …   English dictionary

  • Slacken — Slack Slack, Slacken Slack en, v. t. 1. To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage. Wycklif (Acts xxvii. 40) [1913 Webster] 2. To neglect; to be remiss in. [Obs.] Shak. [1913 Webster] Slack not the… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

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