slacks

UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈslæks/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/slæks/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(slaks)


WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
slacks /slæks/USA pronunciation   n. [plural]
  1. Clothingtrousers for informal or casual wear:The slacks were too tight.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
slacks  (slaks),USA pronunciation n. (used with a pl. v.)
  1. Clothingmen's or women's trousers for informal wear.
  • slack1 + -s3 1815–25

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
slacks /slæks/ pl n
  1. informal trousers worn by both sexes
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
slack1 /slæk/USA pronunciation   adj., -er, -est, adv., n., v. 
adj. 
    1. not tight, firm, or tense;
      loose:a slack rope.
    2. negligent;
      careless;
      remiss:slack in answering letters.
    3. not active or busy;
      not brisk:the slack season in an industry.

    n. [uncountable]
    1. a slack condition or part, esp. of a rope, sail, or the like, that hangs loose, without strain upon it:too much slack in the sails.

    v. 
    1. to fail to do one's duty or part, as by being lazy:[no object]often slacking at work.
    2. to become less active, busy, or intense;
      slacken:[~ + off/up]At last some of the work slacked off and he could relax.
    slack•ness, n. [uncountable]

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
slack1  (slak),USA pronunciation 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.
  4. not active or busy;
    dull;
    not brisk:the slack season in an industry.
  5. moving very slowly, as the tide, wind, or water.
  6. weak;
    lax.
  7. [Naut.]easy (def. 15a).

adv. 
  1. in a slack manner.

n. 
  1. a slack condition or part.
  2. the part of a rope, sail, or the like, that hangs loose, without strain upon it.
  3. a decrease in activity, as in business or work:a sudden slack in output.
  4. a period of decreased activity.
  5. [Geog.]a cessation in a strong flow, as of a current at its turn.
  6. a depression between hills, in a hillside, or in the land surface.
  7. [Pros.](in sprung rhythm) the unaccented syllable or syllables.
  8. [Brit. Dial.]a morass;
    marshy ground;
    a hollow or dell with soft, wet ground at the bottom.
  9. take up the slack:
    • to pull in or make taut a loose section of a rope, line, wire, etc.:Take up the slack before releasing the kite.
    • to provide or compensate for something that is missing or incomplete:New sources of oil will take up the slack resulting from the embargo.

v.t. 
  1. to be remiss in respect to (some matter, duty, right, etc.);
    shirk;
    leave undone:He slacked the most important part.
  2. to make or allow to become less active, vigorous, intense, etc.;
    relax (efforts, labor, speed, etc.);
    lessen;
    moderate (often fol. by up).
  3. to make loose, or less tense or taut, as a rope;
    loosen (often fol. by off or out).
  4. to slake (lime).

v.i. 
  1. to be remiss;
    shirk one's duty or part.
  2. to become less active, vigorous, rapid, etc. (often fol. by up):Business is slacking up.
  3. to become less tense or taut, as a rope;
    to ease off.
  4. to become slaked, as lime.
  • bef. 900; Middle English slac (adjective, adjectival), Old English sleac, slæc; cognate with Old Norse slakr, Old High German slach, Latin laxus lax
slack′ing•ly, adv. 
slack′ly, adv. 
slack′ness, n. 
    1. . relaxed. 2. . lazy, weak. 3. . dilatory, tardy, late. 4. . idle, quiet. 11. . slowing, relaxation. 18. . neglect. 19. . reduce, slacken. 22. . malinger.
slack2  (slak),USA pronunciation n. 
  1. Miningthe fine screenings of coal.
  • Middle Dutch slacke, slecke
  • late Middle English sleck 1400–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
slack /slæk/ adj
  1. not tight, tense, or taut
  2. negligent or careless
  3. (esp of water, etc) moving slowly
  4. (of trade, etc) not busy
  5. another term for lax1
 adv
  1. in a slack manner
 n
  1. a part of a rope, etc, that is slack: take in the slack
  2. a period of decreased activity
 vb
  1. to neglect (one's duty, etc)
  2. (often followed by off) to loosen; to make slack
  3. a less common word for slake
Etymology: Old English slæc, sleac; related to Old High German slah, Old Norse slākr bad, Latin laxus lax1ˈslackly adv ˈslackness n
slack /slæk/ n
  1. small pieces of coal with a high ash content
Etymology: 15th Century: probably from Middle Low German slecke; related to Dutch slak, German Schlacke dross
'slacks' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
smock - baggies - blouse - duck - overblouse - overshirt - pair - pantsuit - pedal pushers - toreador pants - trousers - slack suit - sports jacket

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