slake
VerbOpen English WordNet
Verb (3)slaked, slaking
- satisfy (thirst)“The cold water quenched his thirst”Synonyms: quenchallayassuageMore general fit, conform toInvolves consume, ingest
- make less active or intenseSynonyms: abateslackMore general decrease, lessen
- cause to heat and crumble by treatment with water“slack lime”Synonyms: slackMore general hydrateMore specific air-slake
What does it mean? Question 1 of today’s quiz
Webster's Dictionary (1913)
Origin: OE. slaken to render slack, to slake, AS. sleacian, fr. sleac slack. See Slack, v. & a.
1. To allay; to quench; to extinguish; as, to slake thirst. “And slake the heavenly fire.” Edmund Spenser
It could not slake mine ire nor ease my heart.— William Shakespeare
2. To mix with water, so that a true chemical combination shall take place; to slack; as, to slake lime.
1. To go out; to become extinct. “His flame did slake.” Sir Thomas Browne
2. To abate; to become less decided. rare William Shakespeare
3. To slacken; to become relaxed. “When the body's strongest sinews slake.” rare Sir John Davies
4. To become mixed with water, so that a true chemical combination takes place; as, the lime slakes.
Slake trough, a trough containing water in which a blacksmith cools a forging or tool.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), from GCIDE 0.54