Definition

1. Noun:

   • A layer or covering that is shed or cast off: This refers to the dead outer skin, especially of a snake or other reptile, that is naturally discarded.
   • A state of deep despair or moral degradation: A metaphorical use describing a condition of severe dejection or a swamp-like state of hopelessness.
   • A swamp, bog, or muddy hollow: An area of soft, wet, muddy ground; a mire or backwater.

2. Verb:

   • To cast off or shed (a layer of skin, covering, or habit): The process of getting rid of something old, dead, or unwanted, allowing for renewal or growth.

Examples of Usage

• Noun:

  • We found a snake's slough in the garden. (We found a snake's shed skin in the garden.)
  • He fell into a slough of despond after losing his job. (He fell into a state of deep despair after losing his job.)
  • The wagon got stuck in a muddy slough. (The wagon got stuck in a muddy bog.)

• Verb:

  • Snakes slough their skin several times a year. (Snakes shed their skin several times a year.)
  • She worked hard to slough off her old fears. (She worked hard to cast off her old fears.)

Advanced Usage

• "to slough over": To treat something as unimportant; to gloss over or disregard.
  • He tended to slough over the details, focusing only on the big picture. (He tended to disregard the details, focusing only on the big picture.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sloughy (adj): Resembling or characteristic of a slough; boggy or muddy.
  • The path became sloughy after the heavy rain. (The path became boggy after the heavy rain.)

Synonyms

• Noun (shed skin): Cast, exuviae, molt.
• Noun (swamp): Bog, marsh, mire, quagmire, morass.
• Verb (to shed): Shed, molt, cast off, discard, exuviate.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Slough off:
  • To shed or cast off something.

    • The tree sloughs off its bark. (The tree sheds its bark.)
  • To get rid of something undesirable, such as a habit or feeling.

    • It's time to slough off these negative thoughts. (It's time to get rid of these negative thoughts.)
  • To treat as unimportant; to disregard.

    • He sloughed off their criticism. (He disregarded their criticism.)

Related Idioms

• The Slough of Despond: A state of extreme depression or hopelessness. This idiom originates from John Bunyan's .
  • After the failed project, the team was in a real slough of despond. (After the failed project, the team was in a real state of hopelessness.)

Noun

1. any outer covering that can be shed or cast off (such as the cast-off skin of a snake)
2. a stagnant swamp (especially as part of a bayou)
3. a hollow filled with mud
4. necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass

Verb

1. cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers
   • our dog sheds every Spring