slacks slacks /ˈslæks/

noun

1. () (used in the plural) pants for casual wear  ( slacks )
   (used in the plural) pants for casual wear
     He wore neatly pressed slacks and a dress shirt to the office.
   He wore neatly pressed slacks and a dress shirt to the office.
   
   

 slack slack /ˈslæk/

adjective

1. () Not tense or taut  ( loose , slack )
   not tense or taut
    The old man's skin hung loose and grey
   the old man's skin hung loose and grey
    Slack and wrinkled skin
   slack and wrinkled skin
    Slack sails
   slack sails
    A slack rope
   a slack rope
    A slack grip
   a slack grip
   
2. Lacking in rigor or strictness  ( slack , lax )
   lacking in rigor or strictness
    Such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable
   such lax and slipshod ways are no longer acceptable
    Lax in attending classes
   lax in attending classes
    Slack in maintaining discipline
   slack in maintaining discipline
   
3. Flowing with little speed as e.g. at the turning of the tide  ( slack )
   flowing with little speed as e.g. at the turning of the tide
    Slack water
   slack water
   

noun

1. A cord, rope or cable that is hanging loosely  ( slack )
   a cord, rope or cable that is hanging loosely
    He took up the slack
   he took up the slack
   
2. The quality of being loose (not taut)  ( slack , slackness )
   the quality of being loose (not taut)
    He hadn't counted on the slackness of the rope
   he hadn't counted on the slackness of the rope
   
3. A soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot  ( morass , quag , quagmire , mire , slack )
   a soft wet area of low-lying land that sinks underfoot
     The hiker found themselves stuck in a muddy mire, each step becoming a struggle.
   The hiker found themselves stuck in a muddy mire, each step becoming a struggle.
   
   
4. A stretch of water without current or movement  ( slack , slack water )
   a stretch of water without current or movement
    Suddenly they were in a slack and the water was motionless
   suddenly they were in a slack and the water was motionless
   
5. A noticeable deterioration in performance or quality  ( drop-off , slack , falling off , falloff , slump )
   a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality
    The team went into a slump
   the team went into a slump
    A gradual slack in output
   a gradual slack in output
    A drop-off in attendance
   a drop-off in attendance
    A falloff in quality
   a falloff in quality
   
6. Dust consisting of a mixture of small coal fragments and coal dust and dirt that sifts out when coal is passed over a sieve  ( slack )
   dust consisting of a mixture of small coal fragments and coal dust and dirt that sifts out when coal is passed over a sieve
   

verb

1. Cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water  ( slack , slake )
   cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water
    Slack lime
   slack lime
   
2. Become less in amount or intensity  ( abate , slack , slack off , die away , let up )
   become less in amount or intensity
    The storm abated
   The storm abated
    The rain let up after a few hours
   The rain let up after a few hours
   
3. Make less active or intense  ( abate , slack , slake )
   make less active or intense
   
4. Become slow or slower  ( slack , slow up , slow , slacken , slow down )
   become slow or slower
    Production slowed
   Production slowed
   
5. Make less active or fast  ( relax , slack , slack up , slacken )
   make less active or fast
    He slackened his pace as he got tired
   He slackened his pace as he got tired
    Don't relax your efforts now
   Don't relax your efforts now
   
6. Release tension on  ( slack )
   release tension on
    Slack the rope
   slack the rope
   
7. Be inattentive to, or neglect  ( slack )
   be inattentive to, or neglect
    He slacks his attention
   He slacks his attention
   
8. Avoid responsibilities and work, be idle  ( slack )
   avoid responsibilities and work, be idle