| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language: Fourth Edition. 2000. |
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| slow |
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| PRONUNCIATION: |  sl |
| ADJECTIVE: | Inflected forms: slow·er, slow·est
1a. Not moving or able to move quickly; proceeding at a low speed: a slow train; slow walkers. b. Marked by a retarded tempo: a slow waltz. 2a. Taking or requiring a long time: the slow job of making bread. b. Taking more time than is usual: a slow worker; slow progress in the peace negotiations. 3. Allowing movement or action only at a low speed: a slow track; a slow infield. 4. Registering a time or rate behind or below the correct one: a slow clock. 5. Lacking in promptness or willingness; not precipitate: They were slow to accept our invitation. 6. Characterized by a low volume of sales or transactions: Business was slow today. 7. Lacking liveliness or interest; boring: a slow party. 8. Not having or exhibiting intellectual or mental quickness: a slow learner. 9. Only moderately warm; low: a slow oven. | | ADVERB: | Inflected forms: slower, slowest
1. So as to fall behind the correct time or rate: The watch runs slow. 2. At a low speed: Go slow! | | VERB: | Inflected forms: slowed, slow·ing, slows
| | TRANSITIVE VERB: | 1. To make slow or slower. 2. To delay; retard. | | INTRANSITIVE VERB: | To become slow or slower. | | ETYMOLOGY: | Middle English, from Old English sl w. | | OTHER FORMS: | slow ly —ADVERB
slowness —NOUN
| | SYNONYMS: | slow, dilatory, leisurely, laggard, deliberate 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.
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| The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition. Copyright © 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by the Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. |
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