slow

I UK [sləʊ] / US [sloʊ] adjective
Word forms "slow":
adjective slow comparative slower superlative slowest
***

1)

a) a slow movement or action does not happen fast

a long slow walk to the top of the hill

A slow smile spread across her face.

b) used for describing something that is moving or that moves in this way

Most large lorries are slow and difficult to drive.

2)

a) taking a long time

Selecting the best candidate is a slow process.

painfully slow (= very slow):

Progress has been painfully slow.

b) used for saying that someone or something is not fast enough

I need a new laptop – this one's really slow.

slow to do something:

My boss is always slow to tell us about changes in the schedule.

slow in/about doing something:

They're usually pretty slow in returning my phone calls.

3) not intelligent, so that you need a lot of time to understand simple things

My teachers thought I was a slow learner.

Adrian is a bit slow.

4) not busy, exciting, or full of activity

The first part of the film is very slow.

The weeks after Christmas are usually fairly slow in most shops.

5) a watch or clock that is slow shows a time that is earlier than the correct time

Your watch is 15 minutes slow.

6) slow film for a camera is not very sensitive to light, so that it takes more time to take a photograph

7) a slow oven is operating at a very low temperature

Cook in a very slow oven for 2 hours.

•

feel/be slow — informal to feel/be tired and unable to think clearly

Could you repeat that? I'm feeling a bit slow today.

slow off the mark/blocks — informal not reacting quickly to take advantage of a situation

We have been slow off the mark in spotting this business opportunity.

- be slow going

II UK [sləʊ] / US [sloʊ] verb [intransitive/transitive]
Word forms "slow":
present tense I/you/we/they slow he/she/it slows present participle slowing past tense slowed past participle slowed
*

1)

a) slow or slow down if you slow something, or if it slows, you reduce the speed at which it happens

Drugs can slow the progress of the disease.

b) if you slow someone or something, or if they slow, you reduce the speed at which they move

An accident is slowing traffic on the M40.

I ran for a while and then slowed to a walk.

slow to a crawl/halt:

Heavy fog forced drivers to slow to a crawl.

2) if you slow something, or if it slows, you reduce the level or amount of it

Inflation slowed significantly in the 1990s.

Several factors combined to slow consumer spending last month.

Phrasal verbs:

- slow down

III UK [sləʊ] / US [sloʊ] adverb
Word forms "slow":
comparative slower superlative slowest informal *

at a slow speed

Hurry up! You're driving too slow.

Could you speak a little slower, please?

a line of slow-moving traffic