Dictionary-Definition.com :: Slacken definition

Definition of 'slacken'

verb

Become slow or slower; "Production slowed" [syn: slow, slow down, slow up, slack, slacken]

verb

Make less active or fast; "He slackened his pace as he got tired"; "Don't relax your efforts now" [syn: slack, slacken, slack up, relax]

verb

Become looser or slack; "the rope slackened"

verb

Make slack as by lessening tension or firmness [syn: slacken, remit]

From: GCIDE

Slack \Slack\, Slacken \Slack"en\, v. t.
1. To render slack; to make less tense or firm; as, to slack a rope; to slacken a bandage. --Wycklif (Acts xxvii. 40) [1913 Webster]
2. To neglect; to be remiss in. [Obs.] --Shak. [1913 Webster]
Slack not the pressage. --Dryden. [1913 Webster]
3. To deprive of cohesion by combining chemically with water; to slake; as, to slack lime. [1913 Webster]
4. To cause to become less eager; to repress; to make slow or less rapid; to retard; as, to slacken pursuit; to slacken industry. "Rancor for to slack." --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
I should be grieved, young prince, to think my presence Unbent your thoughts, and slackened 'em to arms. --Addison. [1913 Webster]
In this business of growing rich, poor men should slack their pace. --South. [1913 Webster]
With such delay Well plased, they slack their course. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
5. To cause to become less intense; to mitigate; to abate; to ease. [1913 Webster]
To respite, or deceive, or slack thy pain Of this ill mansion. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
Air-slacked lime, lime slacked by exposure to the air, in consequence of the absorption of carton dioxide and water, by which it is converted into carbonate of lime and hydrate of lime. [1913 Webster]

From: GCIDE

Slack \Slack\, Slacken \Slack"en\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slacked, Slackened; p. pr. & vb. n. Slacking, Slackening.] [See Slack, a.]
1. To become slack; to be made less tense, firm, or rigid; to decrease in tension; as, a wet cord slackens in dry weather. [1913 Webster]
2. To be remiss or backward; to be negligent. [1913 Webster]
3. To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake; as, lime slacks. [1913 Webster]
4. To abate; to become less violent. [1913 Webster]
Whence these raging fires Will slacken, if his breath stir not their flames. --Milton. [1913 Webster]
5. To lose rapidity; to become more slow; as, a current of water slackens. [1913 Webster]
6. To languish; to fail; to flag. [1913 Webster]
7. To end; to cease; to desist; to slake. [Obs.] [1913 Webster]
That through your death your lineage should slack. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster]
They will not of that firste purpose slack. --Chaucer. [1913 Webster] Slack

From: GCIDE

Slacken \Slack"en\, n. (Metal.) A spongy, semivitrifled substance which miners or smelters mix with the ores of metals to prevent their fusion. [Written also slakin.] [1913 Webster]