slow

slow

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Pronunciation

The IPA phonetic spelling for "slow" is /sloʊ/.

• Syllable 1: /sloʊ/

• /s/ - voiceless alveolar sibilant

• /l/ - voiced alveolar lateral approximant

• /oʊ/ - diphthong, starting with a mid-back rounded vowel and gliding towards a high-back rounded vowel

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Word Form Variations

• Adjective: slow (comparative: slower, superlative: slowest)

• Adverb: slowly

• Verb: slow (third-person singular present: slows, present participle: slowing, past tense: slowed, past participle: slowed)

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Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms

Adjective

1. Definition: Moving or operating at a low speed; not quick or rapid in motion or action.

• Synonyms: leisurely, unhurried, deliberate, gradual, sluggish

• Antonyms: fast, quick, rapid, swift, speedy

2. Definition: Taking a long time to learn or understand something; not quick-witted.

• Synonyms: dull, obtuse, unintelligent, dim-witted

• Antonyms: quick, sharp, clever, intelligent, bright

3. Definition: Characterized by a lack of activity, progress, or excitement.

• Synonyms: stagnant, dull, tedious, boring, inactive

• Antonyms: busy, bustling, lively, exciting, active

Adverb

1. Definition: At a slow pace; not quickly.

• Synonyms: leisurely, unhurriedly, gradually, sluggishly

• Antonyms: quickly, rapidly, swiftly, speedily

Verb

1. Definition: To reduce the speed of something or someone; to make or become less fast.

• Synonyms: decelerate, retard, reduce speed, ease off

• Antonyms: accelerate, speed up, quicken, hasten

2. Definition: To delay or hinder the progress or development of something.

• Definition: impede, obstruct, hinder, hold back

• Antonyms: expedite, facilitate, advance, promote

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Examples of Use

• Books:

• "The slow progression of the disease left doctors baffled, as traditional treatments seemed to have little effect." (From a medical thriller, likely a fictional example)

• "He moved with a slow, deliberate pace, as if each step were a weighty decision." (From a character description in a novel, likely a fictional example)

• Newspapers:

• "The central bank announced measures to combat the nation's slow economic growth, hoping to stimulate job creation." (The Wall Street Journal)

• "Traffic was particularly slow on the highway this morning due to an unexpected lane closure." (The Daily Nation)

• Online Publications:

• "Experts warn that the slow adoption of renewable energy could have dire consequences for the planet." (CNN.com)

• "Many users are reporting slow internet speeds since the recent system update." (TechCrunch)

• Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:

• Music: "I took a slow boat to China..." (From the song "Slow Boat to China," a popular standard)

• Film: A character in a movie might say, "You're too slow! The killer got away!" (Common dialogue in action or suspense films)

• Television: On a cooking show, a chef might instruct, "Let the sauce simmer on a slow heat for thirty minutes." (e.g., America's Test Kitchen, various episodes)

• Podcasts: A podcast host discussing productivity might advise, "Sometimes, you need to slow down to truly speed up." (e.g., The Tim Ferriss Show, various episodes)

• Video Games: A common in-game notification might appear: "Movement speed significantly slowed by this debuff." (e.g., World of Warcraft, various instances)

• General Public Discourse:

• "The construction on the new bridge is going so slow." (Heard in everyday conversation)

• "Don't be so slow to anger; try to be more patient." (Advice given between friends)

• "Could you please slow down? You're driving too fast." (A passenger to a driver)

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10 Quotes Using Slow

1. "Go slow, the road is long." (Japanese Proverb)

2. "Anything worth doing is worth doing slowly." (Mae West)

3. "I'm a slow walker, but I never walk backward." (Abraham Lincoln)

4. "Slow and steady wins the race." (Aesop, The Tortoise and the Hare)

5. "A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it." (Slow down and look around) (George Moore - This quote is often adapted to include the concept of slowing down, so the inclusion of "Slow down and look around" is an interpretation rather than directly stated by Moore.)

6. "He who hesitates is lost, but he who rushes is often slow to recover." (Chinese Proverb)

7. "Life is not a sprint, it's a marathon, and sometimes you have to go slow to finish strong." (Unknown)

8. "Change is slow, and we have to work at it every day." (Michelle Obama)

9. "The slow burn is often the best kind of fire." (Unknown)

10. "Be slow to promise and quick to perform." (H.G. Bohn)

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Etymology

The word "slow" has a long history, tracing its roots back to Old English.

Its very first known use was in the Old English period (before 1150), where it appeared as "slāw." At that time, its primary meaning was a bit broader than just about speed. It meant things like:

• Sluggish or inactive by nature: Think of someone who is naturally lazy or doesn't move much.

• Torpid: Meaning dull or inactive, like an animal in hibernation.

• Tardy in taking action: Someone who is late or takes a long time to get going.

• Not clever or dull: This referred to someone who wasn't quick to understand things.

So, in those early days, "slow" wasn't just about how fast something moved, but also about a general lack of quickness, energy, or sharpness, whether physically or mentally.

Over time, the meaning evolved. By around 1200, it started to be used more specifically to describe something that takes a long time to develop or happen. And by the mid-1300s, the meaning we commonly use today – "not quick to move physically, taking a long time to move or go a short distance" – became established. The idea of something being "dull" or "tedious" (like a boring book) came even later, around the 1840s.

Essentially, "slow" started as a word describing a general state of being sluggish or inactive, and then gradually narrowed down to focus more on the idea of reduced speed and quickness.

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Phrases + Idioms Containing Slow

• Slow and steady wins the race. (Meaning: Perseverance, even if gradual, leads to success.)

• Go slow. (Meaning: Proceed cautiously or at a reduced pace.)

• On the slow burn. (Meaning: Developing or progressing gradually, often towards an intense or significant point.)

• Slow motion. (Meaning: A reduced speed of movement, often for emphasis or analysis.)

• Slow down. (Meaning: To reduce one's speed or activity level.)

• In the slow lane. (Meaning: Operating at a less demanding pace, or experiencing less progress/excitement than others.)

• A slow learner. (Meaning: Someone who takes a longer time to grasp new information or skills.)

• Play it slow. (Meaning: To proceed cautiously and without haste; to not rush into something.)

• A slow day. (Meaning: A day with little activity or business.)

• Slow on the uptake. (Meaning: Not quick to understand something.)

• The slow boat to China. (Meaning: A very long, circuitous, or delayed route/process.)

• To slow-walk something. (Meaning: To deliberately delay or obstruct the progress of something.)

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Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA

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Source Information

Definition of slow from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.

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