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REFERENCE

slow

adj. · v. · adv. · n.
US //ˈsɫoʊ// UK //slˈəʊ// slow
  1. 1 low speed (adj.)
    A1 Beginner

    moving at a low speed or taking a long time to do something.

    moving, proceeding, or acting with low velocity; taking more time than is usual or expected.

    Example

    The traffic was very slow because of the heavy rain on the highway.

    Example

    The elderly man made slow but steady progress up the steep hill, pausing occasionally to catch his breath.
  2. 2 not busy (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    having little activity or not many customers.

    characterised by a lack of business activity or social excitement.

    Example

    Tuesday is usually a slow day at the restaurant, so we close early.

    Example

    Economic growth remained slow throughout the first quarter, leading many investors to adopt a more cautious strategy.
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  1. 3 wrong time (adj.)
    B1 Intermediate

    showing a time that is earlier than the real time.

    indicating a time earlier than the correct time; used of a timepiece.

    Example

    My watch is five minutes slow, so I arrived late for the meeting.

    Example

    The station clock was notoriously slow, causing several commuters to miss their connections despite arriving on the platform on time.
  2. 4 intellectually limited (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal

    taking a long time to understand things.

    demonstrating a perceived lack of intellectual quickness or comprehension.

    Example

    He is a bit slow to catch on to jokes, but he is very kind.

    Example

    The teacher noticed that while the student was slow to grasp abstract mathematical concepts, his mechanical skills were exceptional.

    Teacher's tip

    This sense can be offensive or derogatory; learners should use it with caution when describing people.
  3. 5 to reduce speed (v.)
    A2 Elementary

    to move more slowly or to make something move more slowly.

    to reduce the speed of something or to decelerate.

    Example

    You should slow down when you drive through a school zone.

    Example

    The pilot began to slow the aircraft as it approached the runway, carefully monitoring the airspeed indicators.

    Usage

    Often used with the particle 'down'.
  4. 6 slowly (adv.)
    A2 Elementary Informal

    at a low speed.

    at a low speed; often used in informal speech or short commands where 'slowly' might feel too formal.

    Example

    The sign on the road said 'Go Slow' because of the construction.

    Example

    Even though the instructions were complex, he told his assistant to take it slow to avoid making any costly mistakes.
    Pitfall
    Please drive more slowly.
    Please drive slow.

    While 'slowly' is the standard adverb, 'slow' is very common in informal speech and short commands like 'Go slow'.

  5. 7 a slow song (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal Music

    a song with a slow tempo, often for dancing.

    a musical composition with a slow tempo, typically a ballad intended for slow dancing.

    Example

    The DJ played a few slows at the end of the wedding party.

    Example

    After an hour of high-energy tracks, the band transitioned into a series of slows to allow the guests to cool down.
Origin

From Middle English slow, slaw, from Old English slāw (“sluggish, inert, slothful, late, tardy, torpid, slow”), from Proto-West Germanic slaiw, from Proto-Germanic slaiwaz (“blunt, dull, faint, weak, slack”), possibly from Proto-Indo-European *sleyH-u- (“bad”). Cognate with Scots slaw (“slow”), West Frisian sleau (“slow, dull, lazy”), Dutch sleeuw (“blunt, dull”), Low German slee (“dull, sluggish”), German schlehe, schleh (“dull, exhausted, faint”), Danish sløv (“dull, torpid, drowsy”), Swedish slö (“slack, lazy”), Icelandic sljór (“dim-witted, slow”).

Word family
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