sləu adj., adv., & v. --adj. 1 a
taking a relatively long
time to do a
thing or
cover a
distance (also foll. by
of: slow of speech). b
not quick;
acting or
moving or
done without speed. 2
gradual; obtained
over a
length of time (slow growth). 3 not producing, allowing, or
conducive to speed (in
the slow lane). 4 (of a clock etc.)
showing a time earlier
than is the case. 5 (of a person) not
understanding readily; not
learning easily. 6
dull;
uninteresting;
tedious. 7 slack or
sluggish (business is slow). 8 (of a
fire or oven) giving
little heat. 9 Photog. a (of a film) needing long
exposure. b (of a lens) having a
small aperture. 10 a
reluctant;
tardy (not slow to
defend himself). b not
hasty or easily moved (slow to
take offence). 11 (of a cricket-pitch, tennis-court, putting-green, etc.) on
which the ball bounces or runs slowly. --adv. 1 at a slow pace; slowly. 2 (in comb.) (slow-moving traffic). --v. (usu. foll. by down, up) 1 intr. & tr.
reduce one's speed or the speed of (a
vehicle etc.). 2 intr. reduce one's pace of
life; live or
work less intensely. øslow
and sure of the
attitude that haste is
risky. slow but sure achieving the required
result eventually. slow-down the
action of slowing down; a go-slow. slow
handclap slow clapping by an
audience as a
sign of
displeasure or
boredom. slow
loris see LORIS. slow
march the marching time adopted by troops in a
funeral procession etc. slow-match a slow-burning match
for lighting explosives etc. slow
motion 1 the
operation or speed of a
film using slower
projection or
more rapid exposure so that actions etc.
appear much slower than
usual. 2 the simulation of
this in real action. slow
neutron a neutron
with low
kinetic energy esp.
after moderation (cf. fast neutron (see FAST(1))). slow
poison a poison eventually causing
death by repeated doses. slow
puncture a puncture causing
only slow
deflation of the
tyre. slow
reactor Physics a
nuclear reactor using
mainly slow neutrons (cf. fast reactor (see FAST(1))). slow
virus a
progressive disease caused by a virus or virus-like
organism that multiplies slowly in the host organism and
has a long
incubation period,
such as
scrapie or
BSE. øøslowish adj. slowly adv. slowness n. [OE
slaw f. Gmc]