First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1slough
noun \ˈslü, ˈslau̇; in the US (exc New England) ˈslü is usual for sense 1 with those to whom the sense is familiar; British usually ˈslau̇ for both senses\
Definition of SLOUGH
1
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
Other Ecology Terms
Rhymes with SLOUGH
blue, boo, brew, chew, clew, clue, coo, coup, crew, cue, dew, do, doux, due, ewe, few, flu, flue, fou, glue, gnu, goo, hew, hue, Jew, Koo, lieu, loo, mew, moo, moue, mu, new, nu, ooh, pew, phew, pooh, q, queue, roux, rue, screw, shoe, shoo, shrew, Sioux, skew, slew, slue, smew, sou, sous, spew, sprue, stew, strew, sue, Sue, thew, through, to, too, true, two, u, view, whew, who, woo, xu, yew, you, zoo
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 verb1
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 \ˈslau̇\
Definition of SLOUGH
town SE cen England in Berkshire pop 98,600
SLOUGH Defined for Kids
slough
noun \ˈslü, ˈslau̇\
Definition of SLOUGH for Kids
: a wet marshy or muddy place
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