slough
/slau/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
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.
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
- any outer covering that can be shed or cast off (such as the cast-off skin of a snake)
- a stagnant swamp (especially as part of a bayou)
- a hollow filled with mud
- necrotic tissue; a mortified or gangrenous part or mass
Verb
- cast off hair, skin, horn, or feathers
- our dog sheds every Spring