slack

To work less hard than you should or avoid doing your work.

• Stop slacking and finish your work.
• She slacked off all afternoon.
• Have you been slacking on your homework?

How to use it: slack off (Don't slack off just because the boss is away.); slack on something (He has been slacking on his homework.)

Similar words: slack off, shirk

Common phrases: slack off, slack at work, slack on homework

To break down or lose firmness through a chemical reaction with water, as lime does.

• The lime began to slack.
• The solid slacked when water reached it.
• Quicklime gives off heat as it slacks.

Similar words: slake

Common phrases: lime will slack, begin to slack

The loose part of a rope, cable, or similar thing that is not pulled tight.

• Pull the rope to remove the slack.
• Leave some slack in the cable.
• He took up the slack before lifting the load.

How to use it: slack in something (There is too much slack in the cable.)

Similar words: looseness

Opposites: tension

Common phrases: take up slack, slack in something, leave some slack

Loose rather than pulled tight.

• The rope is slack.
• The cable went slack when he let go.
• Tighten any slack lines before sailing.

Similar words: loose

Opposites: tight, taut

Common phrases: slack rope, go slack, slack cable

Weak and unable to hold something firmly.

• His grip was slack.
• The cup slipped from her slack hand.
• He kept a slack hold on the reins.

Similar words: weak, feeble

Opposites: firm, strong

Common phrases: slack grip, slack hand, slack hold

Only fairly warm, especially when describing an oven.

• Leave the dish in a slack oven.
• The bread baked slowly in the slack oven.
• The old recipe calls for slack heat.

Similar words: moderately warm

Common phrases: slack oven, slack heat

In a loose, weak, or incomplete way.

• The ropes hung slack from the beam.
• The bundle was tied slack.
• Slack dried hops still held too much moisture.

Similar words: loosely, slackly

Common phrases: slack dried hops, tied slack, hang slack