Also found in: Thesaurus, Medical, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia. Marked by a retarded tempo: a slow waltz. Taking or requiring a long time: the slow job of slow cooker brisket bread. Registering a time or rate behind or below the correct one: a slow clock.

They were slow to accept our invitation. Characterized by a low volume of sales or transactions: Business was slow today. Not having or exhibiting intellectual or mental quickness: a slow learner. So as to fall behind the correct time or rate: The watch runs slow. At a low speed: Go slow! These adjectives mean taking more time than is usual or necessary.

Dilatory implies lack of promptness caused by delay, procrastination, or indifference: paid a late fee because I was dilatory in paying the bill. Leisurely suggests a relaxed lack of haste: went for a leisurely walk by the river. Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. As an adverb, slow has two forms, slow and slowly, and both are standard today. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. He moved in a slow, unhurried way. The distribution of passports has been a slow process. He was not slow to take up the offer. They have been slow in responding.

He got hit in the head and he’s been a bit slow since. Island life is too slow for her liking. The car slowed down as they passed customs. Damage to the turbine slowed the work down. You will need to slow down for a while.