slough

noun \ ˈslü , ˈslau̇ ; in the US (except in New England) ˈslü is usual for sense 1 with those to whom the sense is familiar ; British usually ˈslau̇ for both senses \

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Definition of slough

1 a : a place of deep mud or mire

b or less commonly slew or slue play \ˈslü\

(1) : swamp

(2) : an inlet on a river; also : backwater

(3) : a creek in a marsh or tide flat

2 : a state of moral degradation or spiritual dejection

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sloughy

play \ˈslü-ē, ˈslau̇-ē\ adjective

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Origin and Etymology of slough

Middle English sloughe, slo, from Old English slōh; akin to Middle High German slouche ditch

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First Known Use: before 12th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

slough

verb

Definition of slough

sloughed; sloughing; sloughs

transitive verb

: to engulf in a slough

intransitive verb

: to plod through or as if through mud : slog

First Known Use of slough

1846

in the meaning defined at transitive sense

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slough

noun \ ˈsləf \

variants: or less commonly sluff

Definition of slough

1 : the cast-off skin of a snake

2 : a mass of dead tissue separating from an ulcer

3 : something that may be shed or cast off

Origin and Etymology of slough

Middle English slughe; akin to Middle High German slūch snakeskin

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First Known Use: 14th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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slough

verb \ ˈsləf \

variants: or less commonly sluff

Definition of slough

sloughed also sluffed; sloughing also sluffing; sloughs also sluffs

intransitive verb

1 a : to become shed or cast off

b : to cast off one's skin

c : to separate in the form of dead tissue from living tissue

2 : to crumble slowly and fall away

transitive verb

1 : to cast off

2 a : to get rid of or discard as irksome, objectionable, or disadvantageous —usually used with off

b : to dispose of (a losing card in bridge) by discarding

First Known Use of slough

1720

in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

See Words from the same year

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Synonym Discussion of slough

discard, cast, shed, slough, scrap, junk mean to get rid of. discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless.