Noun
1. dust consisting of a mixture of small coal fragments and coal dust and dirt that sifts out when coal is passed over a sieve
2. a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality;
"the team went into a slump""a gradual slack in output""a drop-off in attendance""a falloff in quality"3. a stretch of water without current or movement;
"suddenly they were in slack water"4. the condition of being loose (not taut);
"he hadn't counted on the slackness of the rope"5. a cord or rope or cable that is hanging loosely;
"he took up the slack"Verb
1. avoid responsibilities and work, be idle
2. be inattentive to, or neglect;
"He slacks his attention"3. release tension on;
"slack the rope"4. make less active or fast;
"He slackened his pace as he got tired""Don't relax your efforts now"5. become slow or slower;
"Production slowed"6. make less active or intense
7. become less in amount or intensity;
"The storm abated""The rain let up after a few hours"8. cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water;
"slack lime"Adjective
1. not tense or taut;
"the old man's skin hung loose and gray""slack and wrinkled skin""slack sails""a slack rope"2. lacking in strength or firmness or resilience;
"flaccid muscles""took his lax hand in hers""gave a limp handshake""a limp gesture as if waving away all desire to know" G.K.Chesterton"a slack grip"3. flowing with little speed as e.g. at the turning of the tide;
"slack water"4. lacking in rigor or strictness;
"such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable""lax in attending classes""slack in maintaining discipline"