Definition

1. Noun:

   • A person who is legally owned by another and forced to work without pay: A slave is someone who is the property of another person and has no personal freedom or rights.
   • A person who is completely controlled by a habit, influence, or person: Figuratively, a slave is someone who is excessively devoted to or dominated by something.
   • A person who works very hard without proper rest or appreciation: This describes someone who labors extremely hard, often under difficult conditions.

2. Verb:

   • To work excessively hard: To slave means to work very hard for long hours, like a slave would.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • The ancient empire was built on the labor of slaves. (A person owned by another.)
  • He is a slave to his daily routine, never deviating from it. (A person controlled by a habit.)
  • She felt like a slave in her demanding job. (A person who works very hard.)

• Verb:

  • She slaved for years to save enough money. (Worked extremely hard.)
  • He's been slaving over that report all night. (Working very hard on a specific task.)

Advanced Usage

• "Slave away": To work very hard and continuously.
  • He's been slaving away in the kitchen to prepare the feast.
• "Slave driver": (Noun, a compound term) A harsh, demanding boss or supervisor who makes people work very hard.
  • The foreman was a real slave driver.

Variants and Related Words

• Slavery (n): The system or practice of owning slaves.
  • The abolition of slavery was a long struggle.
• Enslave (v): To make someone a slave.
  • The conquerors sought to enslave the local population.
• Slavish (adj): Showing no originality; blindly following or copying.
  • His slavish imitation of the artist's style was obvious.

Synonyms

• Noun (owned person): Bondsman, thrall, serf.
• Noun (hard worker): Drudge, workhorse, toiler.
• Verb: Toil, drudge, grind, labor.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Slave over: To work very hard on something, especially for a long time.
  • She slaved over the details of the contract.

Related Idioms

• A slave to fashion: Someone who always feels compelled to wear the latest styles.
  • She buys new clothes every week; she's a real slave to fashion.
• Wage slave: (Noun phrase) A person who is entirely dependent on income from employment, often in a job they dislike.
  • He called himself a wage slave, trapped in a boring office job.

Noun

1. someone entirely dominated by some influence or person
   • a slave to fashion
   • a slave to cocaine
   • his mother was his abject slave
2. someone who works as hard as a slave
3. a person who is owned by someone

Verb

1. work very hard, like a slave