Slow definition | Dictionary.com

slow

[sloh]

adjective, -er, -est, adverb, -er, -est, verb

–adjective

1.	moving or proceeding with little or less than usual speed or velocity: a slow train.

2.	characterized by lack of speed: a slow pace.

3.	taking or requiring a comparatively long time for completion: a slow meal; a slow trip.

4.	requiring or taking a long time for growing, changing, or occurring; gradual: a plant of slow growth.

5.	sluggish in nature, disposition, or function.

6.	dull of perception or understanding; mentally dull: a slow child.

7.	not prompt, readily disposed, or in haste (usually fol. by to or an infinitive): slow to anger; slow to take offense.

8.	burning or heating with little speed or intensity, as a fire or an oven.

9.	slack; not busy: The market was slow today.

10.	having some quality that retards speed or causes movement, progress, work, etc., to be accomplished at less than the usual or expected rate of speed: a slow, careful worker; a slow road.

11.	running at less than the proper rate of speed or registering less than the proper time, as a clock.

12.	passing heavily or dragging, as time: It's been a slow afternoon.

13.	not progressive; behind the times: a slow town.

14.	dull, humdrum, uninteresting, or tedious: What a slow party!

15.	Photography. requiring long exposure, as by having a small lens diameter or low film sensitivity: a slow lens or film.

16.	(of the surface of a race track) sticky from a fairly recent rain and in the process of drying out.

–adverb

17.	in a slow manner; slowly: Drive slow.

–verb (used with object)

18.	to make slow or slower (often fol. by up or down).

19.	to retard; reduce the advancement or progress of: His illness slowed him at school.

–verb (used without object)

20.	to become slow or slower; slacken in speed (often fol. by up or down).

Origin:
bef. 900; ME; OE slāw sluggish, dull; c. D sleeuw; cf. sloth

Related forms:

slowly, adverb

slowness, noun

Synonyms:
1, 2. unhurried. Slow, deliberate, gradual, leisurely mean unhurried and not happening rapidly. That which is slow acts or moves without haste or rapidity: a slow procession of cars. Deliberate implies the slowness that marks careful consideration before and while acting: a deliberate and calculating manner. Gradual suggests the slowness of something that advances one step at a time: a gradual improvement in service. That which is leisurely moves with the slowness allowed by ample time or the absence of pressure: an unhurried and leisurely stroll. 5. sluggardly, dilatory, indolent, lazy, slothful. 6. dense. See dull. 14. boring. 19. hinder, impede, obstruct.

Antonyms:
1–3. fast. 19. advance.

Usage note:
As an adverb, slow has two forms, slow and slowly. Slowly appeared first in the 15th century; slow came into use shortly thereafter. Both are standard today in certain uses.
Originally, slow was used both preceding and following the verb it modified. Today, it is used chiefly in imperative constructions with short verbs of motion (drive, run, turn, walk, etc.), and it follows the verb: Drive slow. Don't walk so slow. This use is more common in speech than in writing, although it occurs widely on traffic and road signs. Slow also combines with present participles in forming adjectives: slow-burning; slow-moving. In this use it is standard in all varieties of speech and writing.
Slowly is by far the more common form of the adverb in writing. In both speech and writing it is the usual form in preverb position (He slowly drove down the street. The couple slowly strolled into the park) and following verbs that are not imperatives (He drove slowly down the street. The couple strolled slowly through the park). See also quick, sure.

Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source

Link To Slow

slow (slō)

adj. slow·er, slow·est

1. Not moving or able to move quickly; proceeding at a low speed: a slow train; slow walkers.
2. Marked by a retarded tempo: a slow waltz.
3. Taking or requiring a long time: the slow job of making bread.
4. Taking more time than is usual: a slow worker; slow progress in the peace negotiations.
1. Taking or requiring a long time: the slow job of making bread.
2. Taking more time than is usual: a slow worker; slow progress in the peace negotiations.
Allowing movement or action only at a low speed: a slow track; a slow infield.
Registering a time or rate behind or below the correct one: a slow clock.
Lacking in promptness or willingness; not precipitate: They were slow to accept our invitation.
Characterized by a low volume of sales or transactions: Business was slow today.
Lacking liveliness or interest; boring: a slow party.
Not having or exhibiting intellectual or mental quickness: a slow learner.
Only moderately warm; low: a slow oven.

adv. slower, slowest

So as to fall behind the correct time or rate: The watch runs slow.
At a low speed: Go slow!

v. slowed, slow·ing, slows

v. tr.

To make slow or slower.
To delay; retard.

v. intr.
To become slow or slower.

[Middle English, from Old English slāw.]
slow'ly adv., slow'ness n.

Synonyms: These adjectives mean taking more time than is usual or necessary. Slow is the least specific: a slow bus; a slow heartbeat; slow to anger.
Dilatory implies lack of promptness caused by delay, procrastination, or indifference: paid a late fee because I was dilatory in paying the bill.
Leisurely suggests a relaxed lack of haste: went for a leisurely walk by the river.
Laggard implies hanging back or falling behind: "the horses' laggard pace" (Rudyard Kipling).
Deliberate suggests a lack of hurry traceable especially to caution or careful consideration, as of consequences: worked in a systematic and deliberate manner.

Usage Note: Slow may sometimes be used instead of slowly when it comes after the verb: We drove the car slow. In formal writing slowly is generally preferred. Slow is often used in speech and informal writing, especially when brevity and forcefulness are sought: Drive slow! Slow is also the established idiomatic form with certain senses of common verbs: The watch runs slow. Take it slow.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source

Slow

Slow\, obs. imp. of Slee, to slay. Slew. --Chaucer.

Slow

Slow\, a. [Compar. Slower; superl. Slowest.] [OE. slow, slaw, AS. sl[=a]w; akin to OS. sl?u blunt, dull, D. sleeuw, slee, sour, OHG. sl?o blunt, dull, Icel. sl?r, sl?r, Dan. sl["o]v, Sw. sl["o]. Cf. Sloe, and Sloth.]

1. Moving a short space in a relatively long time; not swift; not quick in motion; not rapid; moderate; deliberate; as, a slow stream; a slow motion.

2. Not happening in a short time; gradual; late.

These changes in the heavens, though slow, produced Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast. --Milton.

3. Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue.

Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slow To guard their shore from an expected foe. --Dryden.

4. Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive.

He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding. --Prov. xiv. 29.

5. Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time; as, the clock or watch is slow.

6. Not advancing or improving rapidly; as, the slow growth of arts and sciences.

7. Heavy in wit; not alert, prompt, or spirited; wearisome; dull. [Colloq.] --Dickens. Thackeray.

Note: Slow is often used in the formation of compounds for the most part self-explaining; as, slow-gaited, slow-paced, slow-sighted, slow-winged, and the like.

Slow coach, a slow person. See def.7, above. [Colloq.]

Slow lemur, or Slow loris (Zo["o]l.), an East Indian nocturnal lemurine animal (Nycticebus tardigradus) about the size of a small cat; -- so called from its slow and deliberate movements. It has very large round eyes and is without a tail. Called also bashful Billy.

Slow match. See under Match.

Syn: Dilatory; late; lingering; tardy; sluggish; dull; inactive.

Usage: Slow, Tardy, Dilatory. Slow is the wider term, denoting either a want of rapid motion or inertness of intellect. Dilatory signifies a proneness to defer, a habit of delaying the performance of what we know must be done. Tardy denotes the habit of being behind hand; as, tardy in making up one's acounts.

Slow

Slow\, adv. Slowly.

Let him have time to mark how slow time goes In time of sorrow. --Shak.

Slow

Slow\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. Slowed; p. pr. & vb. n. Slowing.] To render slow; to slacken the speed of; to retard; to delay; as, to slow a steamer. --Shak.

Slow

Slow\, v. i. To go slower; -- often with up; as, the train slowed up before crossing the bridge.

Slow

Slow\, n. A moth. [Obs.] --Rom. of R.

Language Translation for : Slow

Spanish: lento,

German: langsam,

Japanese: 遅い

More Translations »

slow (adj.)

O.E. slaw "inactive, sluggish," also "not clever," from P.Gmc. *slæwaz (cf. O.S. sleu "blunt, dull," M.Du. slee, Du. sleeuw "sour, tart, blunt," O.H.G. sleo "blunt, dull," O.N. sljor, Dan. sløv, Swed. slö "blunt, dull"). Meaning "taking a long time" is attested from c.1230. Meaning "dull, tedious" is from 1841. The verb is O.E. slawian; modern use may be a 16c. reformation. Slowpoke is first recorded 1848. Slow burn "delayed anger reaction" is attested from 1975.

slow

In addition to the idioms beginning with slow, also see mills of the gods grind slowly; on the uptake, slow.

Search another word or see Slow on Thesaurus | Reference

About · Privacy Policy · Terms of Use · Advertise with Us · Link to Us · NASCAR® · Contact Us