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1

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 \

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
—

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

Other Ecology Terms

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

2

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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3

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

4

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

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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.
    • discard old clothes
cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation.
    • cast off her friends
shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster.
    • shed a bad habit
    • finally sloughed off the depression
scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form.
    • scrap all the old ways
    • would junk our educational system

Slough

geographical name \ ˈslau̇ \

Definition of Slough

town in Berkshire, southeast central England, west of London population 155,000

SLOUGH Defined for Kids

slough

noun \ ˈslü , ˈslau̇ \

Definition of slough for Students

: a wet marshy or muddy place

Medical Dictionary

1

slough

noun \ ˈsləf \

medical Definition of slough

: dead tissue separating from living tissue; especially : a mass of dead tissue separating from an ulcer
2

slough

intransitive verb

medical Definition of slough

: to separate in the form of dead tissue from living tissue
  • dermal sloughing
transitive verb
: to cast off
  • slough dead tissue
  • the uterine lining is sloughed

Learn More about slough

  1. See words that rhyme with slough Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for slough Spanish Central: Translation of slough Nglish: Translation of slough for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of slough for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about slough

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slough

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