Meaning of slow In English

• 0 moving, happening, or doing something without much speed:

  • a slow runner/driver/reader

  • She's a very slow eater.

  • We're making slow but steady progress with the painting.

  • The government was very slow to react to the problem.

  • Business is always slow during those months because everyone's on holiday.

• 1 used to describe a film, book, play, etc. that does not have much excitement and action:

  • His films are so slow they send me to sleep.

• 2 A person might be described as slow if they are not very clever and do not understand or notice things quickly:

  • I feel so slow when I'm with Andrew - he's so much brighter than me.

  • I was a bit slow on the uptake there - I didn't follow his reasoning at all.

• 3 If a clock or watch is slow, it shows a time that is earlier than the real time:

  • That clock is ten minutes slow.

• 4 (of an oven) cool:

  • Bake in the centre of a very slow oven, 150°C or 310°F, for an hour and a quarter.

• 5 to reduce speed or activity, or to make something do this:

  • Business development has slowed in response to the recession.

  • Traffic slows to a crawl (= goes so slowly it almost stops) during rush hour.

  • The pilot was asked to slow his approach to the runway.

• 6 at a slow speed:

  • I can't walk any slower.

  • slow-moving traffic

  • a slow-burning candle

  • mainly US He drives too slow!

• 7 lacking speed; not fast or quick:

  • He was far too slow to catch me.

  • We were slow to understand how we could use computers in our work.

  • a class for slower students

• 8 to reduce speed or activity, or to make something do this:

  • [ I ] Traffic slowed to a crawl.

  • [ T ] There's still a chance to slow the spread of the disease.

• 9 happening without much speed:

  • slow growth/progress/recovery Small companies are making a slow recovery from the recession.

  • Growth in this sector has been slower than predicted.

  • Despite a rather slow start, the month ended well.

  • The slow pace of recovery in the labor market could not be denied.

  • be slow to do sth The company was slow to react to changing market conditions.

• 10 if business, sales, etc. are slow, there is very little activity:

  • Business is always slow during summer vacation.

  • slow months/season

• 11 to become slower or less active or to make something slower or less active:

  • The market is slowing to some extent.

  • slow dramatically/sharply/significantly Consumer spending has already slowed quite sharply.

  • Economic growth is expected to slow.

  • Their aim is to slow inflation in the housing market.

  • Several unexpected problems slowed progress on the project.