slack

1. intransitive verb

2. 1 :  to be or become slack

3. 2 :  to shirk or evade work or duty

4. transitive verb

5. 1a :  to be slack or negligent in performing or doingb :  lessen, moderate

6. 2 :  to release tension on :  loosen

7. 3a :  to cause to abateb :  slake 3

1. 1 :  cessation in movement or flow

2. 2 :  a part of something that hangs loose without strain take up the slack of a rope

3. 3 :  trousers especially for casual wear —usually used in plural

4. 4 :  a dull season or period

5. 5a :  a part that is available but not used some slack in the budgetb :  a portion (as of labor or resources) that is required but lacking hired a temp to take up the slack

6. 6 :  additional leeway or relief from pressure —usually used with cut refused to cut me some slack on the schedule

dialectal, England

1. :  a pass between hills

1. :  the finest screenings of coal produced at a mine unusable as fuel unless cleaned

1. 1 :  careless 1, negligent They were slack in all things, without order or discipline. — Jack London, The Call of the Wild

2. 2 :  not energetic :  slow a slack pace

3. 3 :  not tight or firm a slack rope a slack jaw

4. 4 :  not busy or active Business is slack.

1. 1 :  to make or become looser, slower, or less energetic

2. 2 :  to avoid work

1. 1 :  a part (as of a rope or sail) that hangs loose without strain

2. 2 slacks plural :  dressy pants

3. 3 :  a portion (as of work or resources) that is required but lacking He was hired to take up the slack.

4. 4 :  additional relief from pressure Hint: This sense is usually used with cut. Can you cut me some slack on the schedule?