2 ADV [ADV after v] In informal English, slower is used to mean 'at a slower speed' and slowest is used to mean 'at the slowest speed'. In non-standard English, slow is used to mean 'with little speed'. □ I began to walk slower and slower. □ We got there by driving slow all the way.
3 ADJ Something that is slow takes a long time. □ The distribution of passports has been a slow process. ● slow|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ My resentment of her slowly began to fade. ● slow|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the slowness of political and economic progress.
4 ADJ [v-link ADJ , usu ADJ to-inf] If someone is slow to do something, they do it after a delay. □ The world community has been slow to respond to the crisis. [Also + in ]
5 VERB If something slows or if you slow it, it starts to move or happen more slowly. □ [V ] The rate of bombing has slowed considerably. □ [V n] She slowed the car and began driving up a narrow road.
6 ADJ Someone who is slow is not very clever and takes a long time to understand things. □ Sorry, I can be a bit slow at times.
7 ADJ If you describe a situation, place, or activity as slow , you mean that it is not very exciting. □ The island is too slow for her liking.
8 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a clock or watch is slow , it shows a time that is earlier than the correct time.
9 → see also slow-
10 slow off the mark → see mark
11 slowly but surely → see surely
12 slow on the uptake → see uptake
▸ slow down
1 PHRASAL VERB If something slows down or is if something slows it down , it starts to move or happen more slowly. □ [V P ] The car slowed down as they passed Customs. □ [V P n] There is no cure for the disease, although drugs can slow down its rate of development. □ [V n P ] Damage to the turbine slowed the work down.
2 PHRASAL VERB If someone slows down or if something slows them down , they become less active. □ [V P ] You will need to slow down for a while. □ [V n P ] He was still taking some medication which slowed him down. [Also V P n]
3 → see also slowdown
▸ slow up PHRASAL VERB Slow up means the same as slow down 1. □ [V P ] Sales are slowing up. □ [V P n] The introduction of a new code of criminal procedure has also slowed up the system. [Also V n P ] SYNONYMS slow ADJ 3
protracted: The struggle would be bitter and protracted.
lengthy: …the lengthy process of filling out passport application forms.
long drawn out: …a long drawn out election campaign. COLLOCATIONS slow VERB 5
slow + noun : economy, growth, progress, recovery; decline, pace, rate, spread; process, traffic
noun + slow : economy, growth, inflation, recovery; decline, pace, rate; activity, metabolism, traffic
slow + adverb : dramatically, markedly, sharply, significantly
slow- /sloʊ -/ COMB slow- is used to form words which describe something that happens slowly. □ He was stuck in a line of slow-moving traffic. □ …a slow-burning fuse.
slow|down /sloʊ daʊn/ (slowdowns )
1 N‑COUNT A slowdown is a reduction in speed or activity. □ [+ in ] There has been a sharp slowdown in economic growth.
2 N‑COUNT A slowdown is a protest in which workers deliberately work slowly and cause problems for their employers. [AM , BUSINESS ] □ It's impossible to assess how many officers are participating in the slowdown. in BRIT, use go-slow
slo w lane (slow lanes )
1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] On a motorway or freeway, the slow lane is the lane for vehicles which are moving more slowly than the other vehicles.
2 N‑SING If you say that a person, country, or company is in the slow lane , you mean that they are not progressing as fast as other people, countries, or companies in a particular area of activity. □ Meanwhile, the economy plods along on two tracks - the express lane for big companies, the slow lane for smaller ones.
slo w mo |tion also slow-motion N‑UNCOUNT [usu in N ] When film or television pictures are shown in slow motion , they are shown much more slowly than normal. □ It seemed almost as if he were falling in slow motion.
slo w-wi tted ADJ Someone who is slow-witted is slow to understand things.
sludge /slʌ dʒ/ (sludges ) N‑VAR Sludge is thick mud, sewage, or industrial waste. □ All dumping of sludge was banned.
slug /slʌ g/ (slugs , slugging , slugged )
1 N‑COUNT A slug is a small slow-moving creature with a long soft body and no legs, like a snail without a shell.
2 N‑COUNT If you take a slug of an alcoholic drink, you take a large mouthful of it. [INFORMAL ] □ [+ of ] Edgar took a slug of his drink.
3 VERB If you slug someone, you hit them hard. [INFORMAL ] □ [V n] She slugged her right in the face.