Word Study
slump
CIDE DICTIONARY
slump, n. [Cf. D. slomp a mass, heap, Dan. slump a quantity, and E. slump, v.t.].
The gross amount; the mass; the lump. [1913 Webster]
slump, v. t. [Cf. Lump; also Sw. slumpa to bargain for the lump.].
To lump; to throw into a mess. [1913 Webster]
"These different groups . . . are exclusively slumped together under that sense." [1913 Webster]
slump, v. i. [Scot. slump a dull noise produced by something falling into a hole, a marsh, a swamp.].
- To fall or sink suddenly through or in, when walking on a surface, as on thawing snow or ice, partly frozen ground, a bog, etc., not strong enough to bear the person. [1913 Webster]"The latter walk on a bottomless quag, into which unawares they may slump." [1913 Webster]
- To slide or slip on a declivity, so that the motion is perceptible; -- said of masses of earth or rock. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
- To undergo a slump, or sudden decline or falling off; as, the stock slumped ten points. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
slump, n.
- A boggy place. [1913 Webster]
- The noise made by anything falling into a hole, or into a soft, miry place. [1913 Webster]
- A falling or declining, esp. suddenly and markedly; a falling off; as, a slump in trade, in stock market prices, in a batter's average, etc. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
slump, n. & v.
--n.
1 a sudden severe or prolonged fall in prices or values of commodities or securities.
2 a sharp or sudden decline in trade or business usu. bringing widespread unemployment.
3 a lessening of interest or commitment in a subject or undertaking.
--v.intr.
1 undergo a slump; fail; fall in price.
2 sit or fall heavily or limply (slumped into a chair).
3 lean or subside.
--n.
1 a sudden severe or prolonged fall in prices or values of commodities or securities.
2 a sharp or sudden decline in trade or business usu. bringing widespread unemployment.
3 a lessening of interest or commitment in a subject or undertaking.
--v.intr.
1 undergo a slump; fail; fall in price.
2 sit or fall heavily or limply (slumped into a chair).
3 lean or subside.
Etymology
17th c., orig. 'sink in a bog': imit.
THESAURUS
slump
arrear, arrearage, arrears, bad times, be found wanting, bear market, bearish market, beat down, boom, bottoming out, break, business cycle, business fluctuations, bust, cadence, catabasis, catenary, cave, cave in, cheapen, cheapening, collapse, come short, comedown, cooling off, crash, crisis, cut, cut prices, debasement, decadence, decadency, deceleration, declension, declination, decline, decline and fall, declining market, decrescendo, decurrence, defalcation, default, defectiveness, deficit, deflate, deflation, deformation, degeneracy, degenerateness, degeneration, degradation, delinquency, demotion, depravation, depravedness, depreciate, depreciation, depression, derogation, descend, descent, deterioration, devaluate, devaluation, devolution, die, diminuendo, dip, dive, downslide, downswing, downtrend, downturn, downward mobility, downward trend, droop, drop, dwindling, dying, ebb, economic cycle, economic expansion, economic growth, economic stagnation, effeteness, evil day, expanding economy, expansion, fade, fading, fail, failing, failure, failure of nerve, fall, fall away, fall in price, fall off, fall short, falling short, falling-off, falloff, flag, flop, flop down, flump, flump down, founder, give way, go down, go downhill, go off, growth, hard times, heavy weather, high growth rate, hit a slump, hit rock bottom, hit the skids, imperfection, inadequacy, inferiority, insufficiency, involution, jew down, keel over, lack, lag, lapse, lose ground, loss of tone, low, lower, lowering, mark down, markdown, market expansion, nose dive, nose-dive, nosedive, not answer, not hack it, not make it, not make out, not measure up, not stretch, not suffice, off market, pare, peak, peaking, pitch, plop, plop down, plummet, plummeting, plump, plunge, price cut, price fall, price reduction, prosperity, rainy day, reach the depths, recede, recession, recovery, reduce, reduction, regression, remission, retreat, retreating market, retrocession, retrogradation, retrogression, run down, run short, sad times, sag, sagging market, set, settle, settle down, shave, short measure, shortage, shortcoming, shortfall, sink, sink down, sinkage, slash, slide, slip, slippage, slouch, slowdown, slump down, smash, soft market, stagnation, stop short, stormy weather, submerge, submergence, subside, subsidence, swag, tailspin, topple, touch bottom, trim, trough, tumble, underage, upturn, wane, wantROGET THESAURUS
slump
Descent
N descent, descension, declension, declination, fall, falling, slump, drop, plunge, plummet, cadence, subsidence, collapse, lapse, downfall, tumble, slip, tilt, trip, lurch, cropper, culbute, titubation, stumble, fate of Icarus, avalanche, debacle, landslip, landslide, declivity, dip, hill, rappel, descending, descendent, decurrent, decursive, labent, deciduous, nodding to its fall, downhill, downwards, the bottom fell out.VB descend, go down, drop down, come down, fall, gravitate, drop, slip, slide, rappel, settle, plunge, plummet, crash, decline, set, sink, droop, come down a peg, slump, dismount, alight, light, get down, swoop, stoop, fall prostrate, precipitate oneself, let fall, tumble, trip, stumble, titubate, lurch, pitch, swag, topple, topple over, tumble over, topple down, tumble down, tilt, sprawl, plump down, come down a cropper.
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