View synonyms for

slave

[ sleyv ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

noun

a person who is the property of and wholly subject to another and forced to provide unpaid labor.
a person entirely under the domination of some influence or person:
She was a slave to her own ambition.
a drudge:
a housekeeping slave.
a slave ant.
Photography. a subsidiary flash lamp actuated through its photoelectric cell when the principal flash lamp is discharged.
Machinery, Computers. a device or process under control of or repeating the actions of a similar device or process. Compare master ( def 21 ).

verb (used without object)

slaved, slaving.

to work like a slave; drudge.
Synonyms: , , ,
to engage in the slave trade; procure, transport, or sell slaves.

verb (used with object)

slaved, slaving.

Machinery, Computers. to connect (a device) to a master as its slave.
Archaic. to enslave.

slave

/ ��ɪ�� /

noun

a person legally owned by another and having no freedom of action or right to property
a person who is forced to work for another against his will
a person under the domination of another person or some habit or influence
a slave to television
a person who works in harsh conditions for low pay
1. a device that is controlled by or that duplicates the action of another similar device (the master device)
2. ( as modifier )
  slave cylinder

verb

introften foll byaway to work like a slave
tr an archaic word for enslave

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Other Word Forms

��l�� adjective
��l�� adjective
��·�� adjective
��i·�� noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of slave¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English sclave (also slave ), from Old French escla(i)ve, and Medieval Latin ��屹�ܲ� (masculine), ��屹�� (feminine) “slave,” special use of ��屹�ܲ� “Slavic, a Slav, slave” (Latin does not tolerate the consonant cluster sl- and employs the cluster scl- instead); so called because Slavs in Central Europe and the Balkans were commonly enslaved in the early Middle Ages; Slav

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Word History and Origins

Origin of slave¹

C13: via Old French from Medieval Latin ��屹�ܲ� a Slav, one held in bondage (from the fact that the Slavonic races were frequently conquered in the Middle Ages), from Late Greek Sklabos a Slav

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Britain's state-owned energy company will not be allowed to use solar panels linked to Chinese slave labour, under changes to government plans.

From

“The legacy of my grandmothers being slaves, overcoming, surviving and keeping their families together.”

From

Harriet Tubman and Frederick Douglass became two spokespeople for those who had lived as slaves.

From

Opposition councillors pointed out to Mr Eddy that Edward Colston's fortune came from "forced transportation of 84,000 slaves, almost 20,000 of whom died", the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

From

Speaking to Radio 4's Woman's Hour, she said some companies were actively checking their supply chains to make sure slave labour had not been used and reflecting that "on their packaging".

From

Related Words

Slav slave ant

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