adj.
- moving or capable of moving only at a low speed.
▸lasting or taking a long time.
- (of a clock or watch) showing a time earlier than the correct time.
- not prompt to understand, think, or learn.
- uneventful and rather dull.
▸(of business) with little activity; slack.
- Photography (of a film) needing long exposure.
- (of a fire or oven) burning or giving off heat gently.
v.
(
often slow down/up)
reduce one's speed or the speed of a vehicle or process.
▸live or work less actively or intensely.
Phrase
- slow but
(or and)
sure
not quick but achieving the required result eventually.
Derivative
- slowish adj.
- slowly adv.
- slowness n.
Usage
Slow is normally used as an adjective (a slow learner). It is also used as an adverb in certain contexts, including compounds such as slow-acting and in the expression go slow. Other adverbial use (e.g. he drives too slow) is informal and non-standard and in such contexts slowly should be used instead.
Etymology
OE slāw ‘slow-witted, sluggish’, of Gmc origin.
