SLACK
1 —adjective. 1 (of rope etc.) Not taut. 2 inactive or sluggish. 3 negligent, remiss. 4 (of tide etc.) Neither ebbing nor flowing. —none. 1 slack part of a rope (haul in the slack). 2 slack period. 3 (in plural.) Informal trousers. —verb. 1 loosen (rope etc.). 2 colloq. Take a rest, be lazy. ? slack off 1 loosen. 2 (also slack up) reduce one`s level of activity; reduce speed. ? slackness none. [old english]