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2 ADV [ADV after v] In informal English, slower is used to mean 'at a slower speed' and slowest is used to mean 'at the slowest speed'. In non-standard English, slow is used to mean 'with little speed'. □  I began to walk slower and slower. □  We got there by driving slow all the way.

3 ADJ Something that is slow takes a long time. □  The distribution of passports has been a slow process. ●  slow|ly ADV [ADV with v] □  My resentment of her slowly began to fade. ●  slow|ness N‑UNCOUNT □ [+ of ] …the slowness of political and economic progress.

4 ADJ [v-link ADJ , usu ADJ to-inf] If someone is slow to do something, they do it after a delay. □  The world community has been slow to respond to the crisis. [Also + in ]

5 VERB If something slows or if you slow it, it starts to move or happen more slowly. □ [V ] The rate of bombing has slowed considerably. □ [V n] She slowed the car and began driving up a narrow road.

6 ADJ Someone who is slow is not very clever and takes a long time to understand things. □  Sorry, I can be a bit slow at times.

7 ADJ If you describe a situation, place, or activity as slow , you mean that it is not very exciting. □  The island is too slow for her liking.

8 ADJ [usu v-link ADJ ] If a clock or watch is slow , it shows a time that is earlier than the correct time.

9 → see also slow-

10slow off the mark → see mark

11slowly but surely → see surely

12slow on the uptake → see uptake

▸  slow down

1 PHRASAL VERB If something slows down or is if something slows it down , it starts to move or happen more slowly. □ [V P ] The car slowed down as they passed Customs. □ [V P n] There is no cure for the disease, although drugs can slow down its rate of development. □ [V n P ] Damage to the turbine slowed the work down.

2 PHRASAL VERB If someone slows down or if something slows them down , they become less active. □ [V P ] You will need to slow down for a while. □ [V n P ] He was still taking some medication which slowed him down. [Also V P n]

3 → see also slowdown

▸  slow up PHRASAL VERB Slow up means the same as slow down 1. □ [V P ] Sales are slowing up. □ [V P n] The introduction of a new code of criminal procedure has also slowed up the system. [Also V n P ] SYNONYMS slow ADJ 3

protracted:The struggle would be bitter and protracted.

lengthy:…the lengthy process of filling out passport application forms.

long drawn out:…a long drawn out election campaign. COLLOCATIONS slow VERB 5

slow+ noun : economy, growth, progress, recovery; decline, pace, rate, spread; process, traffic

noun + slow : economy, growth, inflation, recovery; decline, pace, rate; activity, metabolism, traffic

slow+ adverb : dramatically, markedly, sharply, significantly

slow- /sloʊ -/ COMB slow- is used to form words which describe something that happens slowly. □  He was stuck in a line of slow-moving traffic. □  …a slow-burning fuse.

slow|down /sloʊ daʊn/ (slowdowns )

1 N‑COUNT A slowdown is a reduction in speed or activity. □ [+ in ] There has been a sharp slowdown in economic growth.

2 N‑COUNT A slowdown is a protest in which workers deliberately work slowly and cause problems for their employers. [AM , BUSINESS ] □  It's impossible to assess how many officers are participating in the slowdown. in BRIT, use go-slow

slo w lane (slow lanes )

1 N‑COUNT [usu sing] On a motorway or freeway, the slow lane is the lane for vehicles which are moving more slowly than the other vehicles.