slow
♦♦ slow /sl'oʊ/ (slower slowest slows slowing slowed)
1 [ADJ]
Something that is slow moves, happens, or is done without much speed.
The traffic is heavy and slow...
Electric whisks should be used on a slow speed.
...slow, regular breathing.
≠ fast
● slowly [ADV] ADV with v
He spoke slowly and deliberately...
Christian backed slowly away.
● slowness [N-UNCOUNT]
She lowered the glass with calculated slowness.
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.
≠ fast
3 [ADJ]
Something that is slow takes a long time.
The distribution of passports has been a slow process.
≠ quick
● slowly [ADV] ADV with v
My resentment of her slowly began to fade.
● slowness [N-UNCOUNT]
...the slowness of political and economic progress.
4 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, usu ADJ to-inf, ADJ in -ing
If someone is slow to do something, they do it after a delay.
The world community has been slow to respond to the crisis...
≠ quick
5 [VERB] V, V n
If something slows or if you slow it, it starts to move or happen more slowly.
The rate of bombing has slowed considerably...
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.
He got hit on the head and he's been a bit slow since.
≠ quick
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.
= quiet
≠ lively
8 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
If a clock or watch is slow, it shows a time that is earlier than the correct time.
≠ fast
9
see also slow-
10
slow off the mark: see mark
slowly but surely: see surely
slow on the uptake: see uptakeslow down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), V n P
If something slows down or is if something slows it down, it starts to move or happen more slowly.
The car slowed down as they passed Customs...
There is no cure for the disease, although drugs can slow down its rate of development...
Damage to the turbine slowed the work down.
= slow up
≠ speed up
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If someone slows down or if something slows them down, they become less active.
You will need to slow down for a while...
He was still taking some medication which slowed him down.
3
see also slowdownslow lane (slow lanes)
1 [N-COUNT] usu sing, usu the N
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] usu the N
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.
Germany was not trying to push Britain into the slow lane...slow 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...slow up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
Slow up means the same as slow down 1.
Sales are slowing up...
The introduction of a new code of criminal procedure has also slowed up the system.
1 [ADJ]
Something that is slow moves, happens, or is done without much speed.
The traffic is heavy and slow...
Electric whisks should be used on a slow speed.
...slow, regular breathing.
≠ fast
● slowly [ADV] ADV with v
He spoke slowly and deliberately...
Christian backed slowly away.
● slowness [N-UNCOUNT]
She lowered the glass with calculated slowness.
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.
≠ fast
3 [ADJ]
Something that is slow takes a long time.
The distribution of passports has been a slow process.
≠ quick
● slowly [ADV] ADV with v
My resentment of her slowly began to fade.
● slowness [N-UNCOUNT]
...the slowness of political and economic progress.
4 [ADJ] v-link ADJ, usu ADJ to-inf, ADJ in -ing
If someone is slow to do something, they do it after a delay.
The world community has been slow to respond to the crisis...
≠ quick
5 [VERB] V, V n
If something slows or if you slow it, it starts to move or happen more slowly.
The rate of bombing has slowed considerably...
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.
He got hit on the head and he's been a bit slow since.
≠ quick
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.
= quiet
≠ lively
8 [ADJ] usu v-link ADJ
If a clock or watch is slow, it shows a time that is earlier than the correct time.
≠ fast
9
see also slow-
10
slow off the mark: see mark
slowly but surely: see surely
slow on the uptake: see uptakeslow down
1 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), V n P
If something slows down or is if something slows it down, it starts to move or happen more slowly.
The car slowed down as they passed Customs...
There is no cure for the disease, although drugs can slow down its rate of development...
Damage to the turbine slowed the work down.
= slow up
≠ speed up
2 [PHRASAL VERB] V P, V n P, also V P n (not pron)
If someone slows down or if something slows them down, they become less active.
You will need to slow down for a while...
He was still taking some medication which slowed him down.
3
see also slowdownslow lane (slow lanes)
1 [N-COUNT] usu sing, usu the N
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] usu the N
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.
Germany was not trying to push Britain into the slow lane...slow 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...slow up
[PHRASAL VERB] V P, V P n (not pron), also V n P
Slow up means the same as slow down 1.
Sales are slowing up...
The introduction of a new code of criminal procedure has also slowed up the system.