From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishslowslow1 /sləʊ $ sloʊ/ ●●● S2 W2 adjective (comparative slower, superlative slowest) 1 not quickSLOW not moving, being done, or happening quickly OPP quick, fast → slowly 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 longSLOW 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 shouldslow 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 timeSLOW taking a longer time than something similar OPP fast We got on the slow train (=one that stops at more stations) by mistake.5 businessBUSY PLACE 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]TIME/RIGHT OR WRONG TIME if a clock or watch is slow, it is showing a time earlier than the correct time OPP fastten minutes/five minutes etc slow The clock is about five minutes slow.7 not cleverSTUPID/NOT INTELLIGENT not good or quick at understanding things Teaching assistants have time to help the slower pupils.8 → slow on the uptake9 → slow off the mark10 → do a slow burn11 → slow handclap12 → a slow oven13 photography a slow film does not react to light very easily —slowness noun [uncountable]THESAURUSslow not moving quickly or not doing something quicklyI 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 timea gradual rise in the Earth’s temperatureI’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 hurrya leisurely breakfastThey walked at a leisurely pace.unhurried especially written moving or doing something in a slow and calm way, without rushing at allShe continued to listen, seeming relaxed and unhurried.the doctor’s calm unhurried mannersluggish 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 slowThe car seems rather sluggish going uphill.The drink was making her sluggish.the company’s sluggish performance this yearSales have been sluggish. lethargic moving slowly, because you feel as if you have no energy and no interest in doing anythingShe 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 timeShe lifted her hand in a languid wave.a long languid afternoon in the middle of summerHe was pale and had rather a languid air about him. glacial literary extremely slow – used especially about the speed at which something happensThings are changing, but at a glacial pace.
Examples from the Corpus
slow• Danny is a little bit slow.• For the first few months that I was taking lessons, my progress was extremely slow.• My computer's really slow compared to the ones at school.• It's been a pretty slow day.• Some patients experience a slow decline in their health as the effectiveness of the drugs gradually decreases.• slow economic growth• In the home this usually means the telephone line, which is fine for voice but excruciatingly slow for data.• The CIA has been slow in turning over the documents that Congress requested.• a slow learner• Life as ever-renewing mineral, and minerals as slow life.• February is the slowest month in the tourist trade.• The train was slow, noisy, and uncomfortable.• Rebuilding the country's economy is likely to be a long, slow process.• Climate change is a very slow process.• Things have been slow, real slow, for months now.• She's making a slow recovery after her illness.• I was always one of the slowest runners in my class.• He's so slow, so unimaginative, so lifeless.• We danced to all the slow songs.• "Where are y'all from?" he asked in a slow Southern drawl.• Farmers in the region have been slow to adopt modern agricultural methods.• It was slow, unbearable torture that would drive any man insane.• They are notoriously slow workers.• The closer you sail, the slower you go and viceversa.slow to do something• Later, they were also slow to be brought within reasonable limits, or abolished.• Education, on the other hand, is slow to change, discernible change being measurable in years, or even decades.• Licensed dealers can be slow to deliver share certificates.• However, the vehicle seems slower to move off.• He was slow to react to her revelation, the only possibility he had dismissed outright.• Even when you rub their noses in it, politicians can be remarkably slow to recognise reality for what it is.• He was slow to start his fundraising efforts and has barely collected enough contributions to send out mailers.• She was slow to talk, but when she did, she quickly learned to talk in sentences.slow in doing something• Feedback is slow in these firms and measuring performance is difficult.• From up the path, a black coat migrated his way, like an answer slow in coming.• Gastric clearance of indigestible markers was significantly slower in patients with than in those without cardiovascular autonomic neuropathy.• Saltford slow in the trees, just the odd chub and roach.• Stonewho would sometimes yell at her for being slow in tying her sneakers.• That money is slow in coming.• They were always very slow in responding.• When the information was slow in coming, the announcers were forced to use their imaginations to fill in the details. slowslow2 ●●● S3 W2 (also slow down/up) verb [intransitive, transitive] SLOWto become slower or to make something slower Her breathing slowed and she fell asleep. Ian slowed up as he approached the traffic lights. → slow down→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
slow• I know life in Hollywood is fast-paced, but could you guys slow down a little?• Even as I battled my fears with frenetic bursts of activity, whenever I slowed down I knew I was unprepared.• Instead of slowing down, the pentecostals are growing faster than ever.• The report shows launch activity slowed dramatically for the month of November.• She apologized for slowing him down and twice advised him to leave her.• A closed door stops draughts spreading the flames, and dramatically slows the progress of a fire.• Traffic slowed to a crawl as we approached the accident site.• My watch must have been gradually slowing to a stop all day.• All this paperwork has really slowed up our application process.slowslow3 adverb (comparative slower, superlative slowest) informal SLOWslowly If you go slower, you’ll see much more. → go-slowExamples from the Corpus
slow• You'd better go pretty slow around this corner.• A water supply was very slow coming to Baldersdale and never did arrive at Low Birk Hatt.• If Mr Ridgley's varnish is slow drying, he can add a little paint driers.• Men have been slow to face this prospect; some still hope that it may never become reality.• Apple has been slow to license its operating system.• While the federal policy shift began a decade ago, forest managers have been slow to put it into practice.• Until then, her career had been slow to take off.From Longman Business Dictionaryslowslow1 /sləʊsloʊ/ verb [intransitive, transitive] (also slow down) to become slowerConsumer borrowing has slowed noticeably since Jan. 1.They’re delaying sales reports to the factory to slow down shipments of new cars.→ See Verb tableslowslow2 adjective1not happening, being done, or moving with much speed or not as quickly as it shouldPrices are rising, but at a slower pace than before.a period of slow economic growthWe expect a slow improvement in sales.Designing a new car can be a slow process.2be slow to do something disapproving to not do something immediatelyThe city has been slow to follow through on many of the budget cuts it promised.3COMMERCEif business or trade is slow, there are not many customers or not many things are soldManufacturers say that business remains slow.Monday is usually the slowest day of the week. —slowly adverbDisposable income grew slowly.Origin slow1 Old English slaw 