To go slower; often with up; as, the train slowed up before crossing the bridge.


2. Not happening in a short time; gradual; late. "These changes in the heavens, though slow, produced Like change on sea and land, sidereal blast." (Milton)

3. Not ready; not prompt or quick; dilatory; sluggish; as, slow of speech, and slow of tongue. "Fixed on defense, the Trojans are not slow To guard their shore from an expected foe." (Dryden)

4. Not hasty; not precipitate; acting with deliberation; tardy; inactive. "He that is slow to wrath is of great understanding." (Prov. Xiv. 29)




Slow is often used in the formation of compounds for the most part self-explaining; as, slow-gaited, slow-paced, slow-sighted, slow-winged, and the like. Slow coach, a slow person. See def.7, above.

<zoology> Slow lemur, or Slow loris, an East Indian nocturnal lemurine animal (Nycticebus tardigradus) about the size of a small cat; so called from its slow and deliberate movements. It has very large round eyes and is without a tail. Called also bashful Billy. Slow match. See Match.

Synonyms: Dilatory, late, lingering, tardy, sluggish, dull, inactive.


Origin: OE. Slow, slaw, AS. Slaw; akin to OS. Slu blunt, dull, D. Sleeuw, slee, sour, OHG. Slo blunt, dull, Icel. Slr, slr, Dan. Slov, Sw. Slo. Cf. Sloe, and Sloth.

(01 Mar 1998)