Dictionary

1slough

noun \ˈslü, ˈsla; in the US (exc New England) ˈslü is usual for sense 1 with those to whom the sense is familiar; British usually ˈsla for both senses\

Definition of SLOUGH

1
a :  a place of deep mud or mire
b also slew or slue \ˈslü\
(1) :  swamp (2) :  an inlet on a river; also :  backwater (3) :  a creek in a marsh or tide flat
2
:  a state of moral degradation or spiritual dejection
sloughy \-ē\ adjective
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Origin of SLOUGH

Middle English sloughe, slo, from Old English slōh; akin to Middle High German slouche ditch
First Known Use: before 12th century

Other Ecology Terms

Malthusian, anthropogenic, biomass, carbon footprint, crepuscular, niche, sere, symbiosis, taiga, tundra

2slough

verb

Definition of SLOUGH

transitive verb
:  to engulf in a slough
intransitive verb
:  to plod through or as if through mud :  slog

First Known Use of SLOUGH

1846

3slough

noun \ˈsləf\

Definition of SLOUGH

1
:  the cast-off skin of a snake
2
:  a mass of dead tissue separating from an ulcer
3
:  something that may be shed or cast off

Variants of SLOUGH

slough also sluff

Origin of SLOUGH

Middle English slughe; akin to Middle High German slūch snakeskin
First Known Use: 14th century

4slough

verb \ˈsləf\

Definition of SLOUGH

intransitive verb
1
a :  to become shed or cast off
b :  to cast off one's skin
c :  to separate in the form of dead tissue from living tissue
2
:  to crumble slowly and fall away
transitive verb
1
:  to cast off
2
a :  to get rid of or discard as irksome, objectionable, or disadvantageous —usually used with off
b :  to dispose of (a losing card in bridge) by discarding

Variants of SLOUGH

slough also sluff

First Known Use of SLOUGH

1720

Synonym Discussion of SLOUGH

discard, cast, shed, slough, scrap, junk mean to get rid of. discard implies the letting go or throwing away of something that has become useless or superfluous though often not intrinsically valueless <discard old clothes>. cast, especially when used with off, away, or out, implies a forceful rejection or repudiation <cast off her friends>. shed and slough imply a throwing off of something both useless and encumbering and often suggest a consequent renewal of vitality or luster <shed a bad habit> <finally sloughed off the depression>. scrap and junk imply throwing away or breaking up as worthless in existent form <scrap all the old ways> <would junk our educational system>.

Slough

geographical name \ˈsla\

Definition of SLOUGH

town SE cen England in Berkshire pop 98,600
SLOUGH Defined for Kids

slough

noun \ˈslü, ˈsla\

Definition of SLOUGH for Kids

:  a wet marshy or muddy place

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