slow en · ADJ
Pronunciation
Etymology
From Middle English slaw, slow, from Old English slāw (“lazy; inert, slow”), from Proto-West Germanic *slaiw, from Proto-Germanic *slaiwaz (“blunt; dull; exhausted, faint, sluggish, weak, weary; listless, torpid; dim-witted, slow; lazy, slack”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *sleyH-u- (“bad”). Cognates Cognate with Dutch slee, sleeuw (“cramped, stiff; blunt; sour”), Danish sløv (“blunt; dull; apathetic, lethargic, listless, sluggish, torpid; drowsy”), Icelandic sljór (“dim-witted; blunt; jaded”), Norwegian Nynorsk sljo, slø, sløv (“blunt; weak; lazy”), Swedish slö (“dull; lazy, lethargic, slow, sluggish”).
Meanings
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Taking a long time to move or go a short distance, or to perform an action; not quick in motion; proceeding at a low speed.
Turkey should always be cooked in a slow oven.
a slow train; a slow computer
Holding out her small olive hand before her captain, she said in mild and slowest Spanish, "Senor, I buried him;" then paused, struggled as against the writhed coilings of a snake, and cringing suddenly, leaped up, repeating in impassioned pain, "I buried him, my life, my soul!"
1854, Herman Melville, “The Encantadas”, in Putnam's Magazine:Dotcom mania was slow in coming to higher education, but now it has the venerable industry firmly in its grip. Since the launch early last year of Udacity and Coursera, two Silicon Valley start-ups offering free education through MOOCs, massive open online courses, the ivory towers of academia have been shaken to their foundations.
2013 July 20, “The attack of the MOOCs”, in The Economist, volume 408, number 8845:
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Not happening in a short time; spread over a comparatively long time.
As of the current patch, Luke’s crouching Medium Punch has been nerfed. It will now have a larger hurtbox, in addition to having a slower recovery when the attack misses.
2024 February 27, Rishov Mukherjee, “Street Fighter 6 update 1.11 patch notes: JP, Luke nerfs, Ryu buff, & more”, in Dexerto:Theſe changes in the Heav’ns, though ſlow, produc’d / Like change on Sea and Land, ſideral blaſt, / Vapour, and Miſt, and Exhalation hot, / Corrupt and Peſtilent: […]
1667, John Milton, “Book IX”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], and are to be sold by Peter Parker […]; [a]nd by Robert Boulter […]; [a]nd Matthias Walker, […], →OCLC, signature [Mm3], verso, lines 692–695:Similar studies of rats have employed four different intracranial resorbable, slow sustained release systems—surgical foam, a thermal gel depot, a microcapsule or biodegradable polymer beads.
2013 May–June, Charles T. Ambrose, “Alzheimer’s Disease”, in American Scientist, volume 101, number 3, page 200:
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(derogatory, informal) Of reduced intellectual capacity; not quick to comprehend.
Hey, don't yell at Homer, just because he's a little slow.
1994, Greg Daniels, “Secrets of a Successful Marriage”, in The Simpsons, season 5, episode 22, spoken by Carl (Hank Azaria):Experienced classroom teachers are well acquainted with the attention-seeker, the shy girl, the aggressive boy, the poor concentrator, the slow student,[…]
1960, Dissertation Abstracts, volume 20, page 4007:
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Not hasty; not tending to hurry; acting with deliberation or caution.
He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding.
1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Proverbs xiv:29:And even after the emotional cast comes off, we need to be slow about getting deeply involved in a relationship again.
1999, Brian Paul Kaufman, K. Winston Caine, Prayer, Faith, and Healing: Cure Your Body, Heal Your Mind and Restore Your Soul:
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(of a clock or the like) Behind in time; indicating a time earlier than the true time.
That clock is slow.
- Lacking spirit; deficient in liveliness or briskness.
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(of a period of time) Not busy; lacking activity.
It was a slow news day, so the editor asked us to make our articles wordier.
I'm just sitting here with a desk of cards, enjoying a slow afternoon.
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| slowest | Degree=Sup | lexicographic | |
| slower | Degree=Cmp | lexicographic |
Antonyms
abrupt (antonym(s) of) · keen (antonym(s) of) · fast (antonym(s) of) · swift · quick-witted · brisk (antonym(s) of) · sudden · precipitate · hasty (antonym(s) of) · fast (antonym(s) of “behind in time”) · prompt · accurate (antonym(s) of “behind in time”) · speedy · rapid · lively · quick · hectic (antonym(s) of “not busy”)
Deriveds
slowly · slow and steady wins the race · slowish · slowball · slow burn · slow-burning · slow lane · go-slow · slow-march · sloth · slowbalization · slow news day · slow-acting · low and slow · slow TV · slow slicing · slowplay · slow jam · slow on the uptake · slow cooker · slowpitch · ultraslow · slow as molasses in January · hyperslow · slowth · slow-witted · superslow · slow pitch · digital slow motion · slowass · dog slow · slow burner · Sloman · slow-moving · slow dance · slow head · slowie · slow as molasses · slow street · slower than molasses in January · slow motion · slow-paced · slowsome · slow loris · slow as Christmas · slowtard · slow oven · slow as tar · slow roll · slow time · slow television · slofie · slow bowler · slow speed control · slow ball · slow-cook · slow-wave · slow lemur · slow contact · slowpoke · infraslow · slow belly · slo-mo · slow boil · slow wheel · slowworm · slow fashion · slowdown · overslow · slow clap · slowcore · slow-belly · slow light · slow earthquake · slow train · slow-walk · slow study · slow steaming · slowcoach · slow match · slowen · slow food · slow march · slow but sure wins the race · slow-footed · slow off the mark · slow as a snail · Slowaris · slowness · slowback · slowfooted · slowfox · slow-growing · slower than molasses
Relateds
Synonyms
dilatory · languorous · slow as molasses in January · boring (lacking spirit) · unspeedy · slow as molasses · unbusy (not busy) · sluggish · prudent · inactive · draggy · torpid · creeping · leaden · pokey · turtlesque · low-speed · inert · deliberate · slothlike · lumbering · slow · crawling · slack · dull · moderate · gradual (not happening in a short time) · tedious · slow as Christmas · steady · careful · testudineous · languid · plodding · dreich · labored · slothful · boring · slow as a snail · tardy · inching · ponderous · turtleish · slow-moving · lead-footed · lethargic · slowfooted · behind (behind in time) · glacial · stately · sullen · heavy-footed · quiet (not busy) · subglacial · gastropodous · tardigrade · dull-witted (of reduced intellectual capacity) · deliberate (taking a long time to move a short distance)
Translations (292)
es lerdo (not quick in motion) · ur کودن (not quick in motion) · fo høsnutur (not quick in motion) · la lentus (not quick in motion) · pt devagar (not quick in motion) · es caído del zarzo (of reduced intellectual capacity) · ja とろい (of reduced intellectual capacity) · za menh (not quick in motion) · grc βραδύς (not quick in motion) · ja 遅い (not quick in motion) · bg ба́вен (not quick in motion) · ms lambat (not quick in motion) · es caído del níspero (of reduced intellectual capacity) · tg суст (not quick in motion) · sga mall (not quick in motion) · uk пові́льний (not quick in motion) · el καθυστερημένος (behind in time) · pt lento (spread over a comparatively long time) · bo གླེན་པ (of reduced intellectual capacity) · fo pjakutur (not quick in motion) · fr tranquille (not busy) · ne सुस्त (not quick in motion) · cmn 慢 (not quick in motion) · id pelan (not quick in motion) · fi hidas (spread over a comparatively long time) · fr lent (not quick in motion) · nap liento (not quick in motion) · bg му́ден (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · sw pole (lacking spirit; boring) · sw pole (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · ja ゆっくり (not quick in motion) · cs pomalý (not quick in motion) · es lento (not quick in motion) · lad yavash (not quick in motion) · pt lerdo (not quick in motion) · de langsam (spread over a comparatively long time) · fi hidas (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · de langsam (not quick in motion) · sw aste (spread over a comparatively long time) · lld plan (not quick in motion) · ky акырын (not quick in motion) · fr lent (spread over a comparatively long time) · gd slaodach (not quick in motion) · nl sloom (not quick in motion) · ms perlahan (not quick in motion) · bg безинтере́сен (lacking spirit; boring) · pt atrasado (behind in time) · fi jäljessä (behind in time) · ug ئاستا (not quick in motion) · eo malrapida (not quick in motion) · tr yavaş (not quick in motion) · kaw jambat (not quick in motion) · wa loyminoye (not quick in motion) · he מְפַגֵּר (behind in time) · an lento (not quick in motion) · de langsam (lacking spirit; boring) · io lenta (not quick in motion) · be паво́льны (not quick in motion) · sw aste (behind in time) · it lento (spread over a comparatively long time) · pt lento (not quick in motion) · pdt sacht (nds) (not quick in motion) · bg вял (not busy) · ceb hinay (not quick in motion) · ru ме́дленный (not quick in motion) · vi chậm chạp (not quick in motion) · fo ótíttur (not quick in motion) · se njoahci (not quick in motion) · mba mahinay (not quick in motion) · fo pjákutur (not quick in motion) · ast lentu (not quick in motion) · an lento (of reduced intellectual capacity) · de dumm (of reduced intellectual capacity) · lt lėtas (not quick in motion) · es tardón (of reduced intellectual capacity) · bo དལ་པོ (not quick in motion) · hi आहिस्ता (not quick in motion) · ckb لەسەر خۆ (not quick in motion) · hy դանդաղ (not quick in motion) · de ruhig (not busy) · ur سُسْت (not quick in motion) · it lento (not quick in motion) · ang læt (not quick in motion) · xul gunyan (not quick in motion) · ka ნელი (not quick in motion) · hi सुस्त (not quick in motion) · uz sust (not quick in motion) · chr ᎤᏍᎦᏃᎵ (not quick in motion) · sv långsam (not quick in motion) · et aeglane (not quick in motion) · mi rare (of reduced intellectual capacity) · cs pomalý (spread over a comparatively long time) · se hillji (not quick in motion) · mi poroire (not quick in motion) · wa lintiveus (not quick in motion) · es caído de la hamaca (of reduced intellectual capacity) · mn ᠤᠳᠠᠭᠠᠨ (not quick in motion) · nv chʼééh (not quick in motion) · as লেহেম (not quick in motion) · nl langzame (of reduced intellectual capacity) · ga righin (not quick in motion) · de Zeit lassen (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · az asta (not quick in motion) · mi autō (spread over a comparatively long time) · os сындӕг (not quick in motion) · it tardo (of reduced intellectual capacity) · my နှေး (not quick in motion) · sw pole (spread over a comparatively long time) · az yavaş (not quick in motion) · es zote (of reduced intellectual capacity) · he מְפַגֵּר (of reduced intellectual capacity) · mk бавен (not quick in motion) · sv seg (not quick in motion) · ga leasc (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · la tardus (of reduced intellectual capacity) · mi akitō (not quick in motion) · tl mabagal (not quick in motion) · es caído de la esfera (of reduced intellectual capacity) · mi pongipongi (of reduced intellectual capacity) · ko 느리다 (not quick in motion) · fi jätättää (behind in time) · sw pole (behind in time) · lb lues (not quick in motion) · kl sukkaatsoq (not quick in motion) · mk бавен (spread over a comparatively long time) · fo seinur (not quick in motion) · it tarda (of reduced intellectual capacity) · ar بَطِيء (not quick in motion) · an lento (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · lo ຊ້າ (not quick in motion) · alt акырын (not quick in motion) · cy araf (not quick in motion) · an lento (spread over a comparatively long time) · es no tener dos dedos de frente (of reduced intellectual capacity) · ht lan (not quick in motion) · fi hidas (of reduced intellectual capacity) · bcl maluhay (not quick in motion) · pdt langsom (not quick in motion) · zdj mpesi (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · oc lent (not quick in motion) · se hillján (not quick in motion) · he אִטִּי (not quick in motion) · tg оҳиста (not quick in motion) · bg ску́чен (lacking spirit; boring) · es caído de la cama (of reduced intellectual capacity) · lad lento (not quick in motion) · rm lamaschi (not quick in motion) · tr ağır (not quick in motion) · ur کند (not quick in motion) · hu lassú (not quick in motion) · bg наза́д (behind in time) · ga righin (of reduced intellectual capacity) · nl slome (of reduced intellectual capacity) · sq i ngadalshëm (not quick in motion) · el καθυστερημένος (of reduced intellectual capacity) · es caído de la mata (of reduced intellectual capacity) · fo drúgvur (not quick in motion) · id lambat (not quick in motion) · fa آهسته (not quick in motion) · kl kigaatsoq (not quick in motion) · de langsam (of reduced intellectual capacity) · ur آہِسْتَہ (not quick in motion) · th ช้า (not quick in motion) · gd mall (not quick in motion) · mi hōtoa (not quick in motion) · nrf lent (not quick in motion) · sq vonuar (of reduced intellectual capacity) · uk пові́льний (spread over a comparatively long time) · el βραδύ (not quick in motion) · wa londjin (not quick in motion) · kl arriitsoq (not quick in motion) · alt аккырын (not quick in motion) · sw aste (of reduced intellectual capacity) · mi pōrori (not quick in motion) · de träge (not quick in motion) · sw aste (not quick in motion) · lv lēns (not quick in motion) · av хӏинцаб (not quick in motion) · vi chậm (not quick in motion) · fr tardif (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · ca lent (not quick in motion) · dcc ہلو (not quick in motion) · ckb ھێواش (not quick in motion) · hsb pomały (not quick in motion) · fr lente (not quick in motion) · pl wolny (not quick in motion) · rm plaun (not quick in motion) · mi autō (not quick in motion) · vec slofio (not quick in motion) · mi pūroto (roto) (not quick in motion) · da langsom (not quick in motion) · de langsam (behind in time) · es atrasado (behind in time) · es caído del palto (of reduced intellectual capacity) · as লেহেমীয়া (not quick in motion) · kk жай (not quick in motion) · mnc ᠮᠠᠨᡩᠠ (not quick in motion) · mi kitō (not quick in motion) · nl langzaam (of reduced intellectual capacity) · ro încet (not quick in motion) · sw aste (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · vec piajo (not quick in motion) · ms pelan (not quick in motion) · de zurückgeblieben (of reduced intellectual capacity) · fi hidas (lacking spirit; boring) · mi takamori (not quick in motion) · ga mall (not quick in motion) · kk ақырын (not quick in motion) · kmr hêdî (not quick in motion) · lv lēns (spread over a comparatively long time) · el αργόστροφος (of reduced intellectual capacity) · bo ཉོབ་ཏོ (lacking spirit; boring) · km យឺត (not quick in motion) · yi פּאַמעלעך (not quick in motion) · mi hōtoa (spread over a comparatively long time) · ota آغر (not quick in motion) · sk pomalý (not quick in motion) · pa ਧੀਮਾ (not quick in motion) · mi pōturi (not quick in motion) · de zurückhaltend (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · af stadig (not quick in motion) · nl sloom (of reduced intellectual capacity) · nb langsom (not quick in motion) · scn lentu (not quick in motion) · ur دِھیمِا (not quick in motion) · izh tyltsä mänomää (not quick in motion) · is seinn (not quick in motion) · sl počasen (not quick in motion) · nl langzaam (not quick in motion) · pt lerdo (of reduced intellectual capacity) · aln kadal (not quick in motion) · za yaeng (not quick in motion) · uz sekin (not quick in motion) · ky жай (not quick in motion) · sh spȍr (not quick in motion) · tyv оожум (not quick in motion) · vo nevifik (not quick in motion) · bo བྲེལ་བ་མེད་པ (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · lad avagarozo (not quick in motion) · kw syger (not quick in motion) · fr lent (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · id perlahan (not quick in motion) · fi hidas (not quick in motion) · ko 느린 (not quick in motion) · is hægur (not quick in motion) · de träge (lacking spirit; boring) · el ανέτοιμος (lacking in promptness; acting with deliberation) · fo seinpjakutur (not quick in motion) · mn удаан (not quick in motion) · bho धीमा (not quick in motion) · izh veeno (not quick in motion) · la tardus (not quick in motion) · eu geldi (not quick in motion) · fo døllutur (not quick in motion) · fo seinførur (not quick in motion) · tt әкрен (not quick in motion) · cs pomalý (of reduced intellectual capacity) · ta மெதுவான (not quick in motion) · mi tīraha (not quick in motion) · kw lent (not quick in motion) · el αργόσυρτος (spread over a comparatively long time) · es lerdo (of reduced intellectual capacity) · el αργός (not quick in motion) · sh спо̏р (not quick in motion) · fur lent (not quick in motion) · dlm tierč (not quick in motion) · uk нудни́й (lacking spirit; boring) · yue 慢 (not quick in motion) · bg провле́чен (spread over a comparatively long time) · pl powolny (not quick in motion) · es tardo (of reduced intellectual capacity) · kk баяу (not quick in motion) · te నిదానము (not quick in motion) · es caído del catre (of reduced intellectual capacity) · lv lēns (not busy) · an lento (lacking spirit; boring) · fo putlutur (not quick in motion) · ba яй (not quick in motion) · sw pole (not quick in motion) · mww qeeb (not quick in motion) · mi taitu (not quick in motion) · de falsch (behind in time) · ovd makklin (not quick in motion) · ja 鈍足 (not quick in motion) · es lento (spread over a comparatively long time) · mi akutō (not quick in motion) · sw pole (of reduced intellectual capacity) · hi धीमा (not quick in motion) · nl traag (not quick in motion) · ne ढिलो (behind in time) · ccc yakameleste (not quick in motion) · hsb pomałki (not quick in motion)