slow

slow

slow [adjective] (NOT FAST)

moving, happening, or doing something without much speed

US /sloʊ/ 
UK /sləʊ/ 
Example: 

She's a very slow eater.

Oxford Essential Dictionary

adjective (slower, slowest)

pronunciation
The word slow sounds like go.

1 not moving or doing something quickly:
a slow train
She hasn't finished her work yet – she's very slow.

2 If a clock or watch is slow, it shows a time that is earlier than the real time:
My watch is five minutes slow.
Look at fast and quick.

>> slowly adverb:
The old lady walked slowly up the hill.

Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English

slow

I. slow1 S2 W2 /sləʊ $ sloʊ/ BrE AmE adjective (comparative slower, superlative slowest)
[Language: Old English; Origin: slaw]
1. NOT QUICK not moving, being done, or happening quickly OPP quick, fastslowly:
The car was travelling at a very slow speed.
a slow walker
The economy faces a year of slower growth.
Take a few deep, slow breaths.
2. TAKING TOO LONG taking too long OPP fast:
Taylor was concerned at the slow progress of the investigations.
The legal system can be painfully slow (=much too slow).
slow to do something
The wound was slow to heal.
3. WITH DELAY [not before noun] if you are slow to do something, you do not do it as soon as you can or should
slow to do something
Farmers have been slow to exploit this market.
Their attitude was slow to change.
slow in doing something
He has been slow in announcing the name of his successor.
New ideas have been slow in coming.
4. LONGER TIME taking a longer time than something similar OPP fast:
We got on the slow train (=one that stops at more stations) by mistake.
5. BUSINESS if business or trade is slow, there are not many customers or not much is sold:
Business is often slow in the afternoon.
The company is experiencing slow sales.
6. CLOCK [not before noun] if a clock or watch is slow, it is showing a time earlier than the correct time OPP fast
ten minutes/five minutes etc slow
The clock is about five minutes slow.
7. NOT CLEVER not good or quick at understanding things:
Teaching assistants have time to help the slower pupils.
8. slow on the uptake not quick to understand something new:
Sometimes Tim’s a little slow on the uptake.
9. slow off the mark not quick enough at reacting to something
10. do a slow burn American English informal to slowly get angry:
Tony fumbled the ball and I could see the coach doing a slow burn.
11. slow handclap British English if a group of people give someone a slow handclap, they ↑clap their hands slowly to show their disapproval
12. a slow oven an ↑oven that is at a low temperature
13. PHOTOGRAPHY a slow film does not react to light very easily
—slowness noun [uncountable]
• • •
THESAURUS
slow not moving quickly or not doing something quickly: I was always one of the slowest runners in my class. | My computer’s really slow compared to the ones at school.
gradual happening, developing, or changing slowly over a long period of time: a gradual rise in the Earth’s temperature | I’ve noticed a gradual improvement in his work.
leisurely especially written moving or doing something slowly, especially because you are enjoying what you are doing and do not have to hurry: a leisurely breakfast | They walked at a leisurely pace.
unhurried especially written moving or doing something in a slow and calm way, without rushing at all: She continued to listen, seeming relaxed and unhurried. | the doctor’s calm unhurried manner
sluggish moving or reacting more slowly than usual, especially because of a loss of power or energy. Also used when business, sales, or the economy seem very slow: The car seems rather sluggish going uphill. | The drink was making her sluggish. | the company’s sluggish performance this year | Sales have been sluggish.
lethargic moving slowly, because you feel as if you have no energy and no interest in doing anything: She woke up feeling heavy and lethargic. | His son seemed depressed and lethargic.
languid literary slow and with very little energy or activity – used about people, actions, or periods of time: She lifted her hand in a languid wave. | a long languid afternoon in the middle of summer | He was pale and had rather a languid air about him.
glacial literary extremely slow – used especially about the speed at which something happens: Things are changing, but at a glacial pace.

Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

slow

slow [slow slows slowed slowing slower slowest] adjective, adverb, verb   [sləʊ]    [sloʊ]

adjective (slow·er, slow·est

NOT FAST
1. not moving, acting or done quickly; taking a long time; not fast
a slow driver
Progress was slower than expected.
The country is experiencing slow but steady economic growth.
Collecting data is a painfully slow process.
a slow, lingering death
Oh you're so slow; come on, hurry up!
The slow movement opens with a cello solo.
• She gave a slow smile.

• Average earnings are rising at their slowest rate for 20 years.

2. not going or allowing you to go at a fast speed

• I missed the fast train and had to get the slow one (= the one that stops at all the stations).  

WITH DELAY

3. hesitating to do sth or not doing sth immediately
~ to do sth She wasn't slow to realize what was going on.
~ in doing sth His poetry was slow in achieving recognition.

~ doing sth They were very slow paying me.  

NOT CLEVER

4. not quick to learn; finding things hard to understand

• He's the slowest in the class.  

NOT BUSY

5. not very busy; containing little action
Syn:  sluggish
Sales are slow (= not many goods are being sold).

• There are slow passages in which little happens, but they help to build up the suspense.  

WATCH/CLOCK

6. not before noun showing a time earlier than the correct time

• My watch is five minutes slow (= it shows 1.45 when it is 1.50).  

IN PHOTOGRAPHY

7. slow film is not very sensitive to light
more at be quick/slow off the mark at  mark  n., be quick/slow on the uptake at  uptake  
Word Origin:
Old English slāw ‘slow-witted, sluggish’, of Germanic origin.  
Thesaurus:
slow adj.
1.
a slow driver/walker/reader
Progress was slower than expected.
gradualmeasuredleisurely|written unhurried|written, often disapproving sluggish
Opp: fast, Opp: quick
a slow/gradual improvement/change/acceptance
a/an slow/measured/leisurely/unhurried pace
slow/measured steps
2.
They were slow in paying me.
late|written belated
Opp: quick
slow/late in doing sth  
Example Bank:
Filming was painfully slow.
Genetic evolution is necessarily slow.
He was noticeably slow to respond.
I was considerably slower than the other drivers.
My computer is noticeably slower than before.
She is showing a slow and steady improvement in her reading ability.
They are extremely slow at reaching decisions.
I missed the fast train and had to get the slow one.
Oh you're so slow; come on, hurry up!
She wasn't slow to realize what was going on.
We drove in the slow lane.
a slow driver/walker/reader
Idioms: do a slow burn  go slow

Derived Word: slowness 

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary - 4th Edition
 

slow / sləʊ /   / sloʊ / adjective (NOT FAST)

A1 moving, happening, or doing something without much speed:

a slow runner/driver/reader

She's a very slow eater.

We're making slow but steady progress with the decorating.

The government was very slow to react to the problem.

Business is always slow during those months because everyone's on holiday.

→  Opposite fast adjective (QUICK) , or quick adjective
 

slow / sləʊ /   / sloʊ / adjective (NOT EXCITING)

B2 describes a film, book, play, etc. that does not have much excitement and action:

His films are so slow they send me to sleep.
 

slow / sləʊ /   / sloʊ / adjective (NOT CLEVER)

A person might be described as slow if they are not very clever and do not understand or notice things quickly:

I feel so slow when I'm with Andrew - he's so much brighter than me.

I was a bit slow off the mark/on the uptake there - I didn't follow his reasoning at all.

→  See also slow-witted
 

slow / sləʊ /   / sloʊ / adjective (TIME)

If a clock or watch is slow, it shows a time that is earlier than the real time:

That clock is ten minutes slow.

Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s English Dictionary

slow

[slo͟ʊ]
 ♦♦
 slower, slowest, slows, slowing, slowed

 1) ADJ-GRADED 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.
  Ant:
  fast
  Derived words:
  slowly ADV-GRADED ADV with v He spoke slowly and deliberately... Christian backed slowly away.
  slowness N-UNCOUNT She lowered the glass with calculated slowness.
 2) ADV-GRADED: 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.
 3) ADJ-GRADED Something that is slow takes a long time.
  The distribution of passports has been a slow process.
  Derived words:
  slowly ADV-GRADED ADV with v My resentment of her slowly began to fade.
  slowness N-UNCOUNT ...the slowness of political and economic progress.
 4) ADJ-GRADED: 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...
  I've been a bit slow in making up my mind.
 5) V-ERG If something slows or if you slow it, it starts to move or happen more slowly.
  The rate of bombing has slowed considerably...
  [V n] She slowed the car and began driving up a narrow road...
  [V n] Reactions were slowed by fatigue.
 6) ADJ-GRADED 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.
  Ant:
  bright
 7) ADJ-GRADED If you describe a situation, place, or activity as slow, you mean that it is not very exciting.
  Don't be faint-hearted when things seem a bit slow or boring...
  The island is too slow for her liking.
  Syn:
  quiet
  Ant:
  lively
 8) ADJ-GRADED: usu v-link ADJ If a clock or watch is slow, it shows a time that is earlier than the correct time.
  Ant:
  fast
 9) → See also slow-
 10) slow off the marksee mark
 slowly but surelysee surely
 slow on the uptakesee uptake
  Phrasal Verbs:
  - slow down
  - slow up

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary

Merriam-Webster's Advanced Learner's Dictionary: 

1slow /ˈsloʊ/ adj slow·er; -est [also more ~; most ~]
1 a : not moving quickly : not able to move quickly
• a slow, old dog
• a slow runner/pace/speed
b : not happening quickly : taking more time than is expected or wanted
• a slow growth/increase/process
• Bureaucracy is always slow.
c : not operating quickly
• a slow computer
d : not doing something quickly
• The buyers were slow to act, and the house was sold to someone else. : not able to do something quickly
• a slow reader/learner
e : not allowing someone or something to move quickly
• a slow racetrack/route
2 : not easily able to learn and understand things
• He was a quiet boy who seldom spoke, and some people thought he was a little slow.
3 : not very busy or interesting
• a slow market
• Business is slow during the summer.
• The first few chapters are slow, but after that it gets better.
4 of a clock or watch : showing a time that is earlier than the correct time
• The clock is (five minutes) slow.
5 photography : not allowing photographs to be taken very quickly or when there is very little light
slow film
a slow start
✦Someone or something that has a slow start is not successful at first but does well eventually.
• Despite a slow start at the box office, the movie's popularity has increased steadily.
• The team got off to a slow start this season but is playing well now.
do a slow burn
- see 2burn
slow off the mark
- see 1mark

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