slump Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality
    falling off; slack; falloff; drop-off.
    • the team went into a slump
    • a gradual slack in output
    • a drop-off in attendance
    • a falloff in quality
  2. noun a long-term economic state characterized by unemployment and low prices and low levels of trade and investment
    economic crisis; depression.
  3. verb assume a drooping posture or carriage
    slouch.
  4. verb fall or sink heavily
    slide down; sink.
    • He slumped onto the couch
    • My spirits sank
  5. verb fall heavily or suddenly; decline markedly
    fall off; sink.
    • The real estate market fell off
  6. verb go down in value
    decline; correct.
    • the stock market corrected
    • prices slumped

WordNet

Slump noun
Etymology
Cf. D. slomp a mass, heap, Dan. slump a quantity, and E. slump, v.t.
Definitions
  1. The gross amount; the mass; the lump. Scot.
Slump transitive verb
Etymology
Cf. Lump; also Sw. slumpa to bargain for the lump.
Definitions
  1. To lump; to throw into a mess.
    These different groups . . . are exclusively slumped together under that sense. Sir W. Hamilton.
Slump intransitive verb
Etymology
Scot. slump a dull noise produced by something falling into a hole, a marsh, a swamp.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Slumped ; present participle & verbal noun Slumping
Definitions
  1. 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.
    The latter walk on a bottomless quag, into which unawares they may slump. Barrow.
Slump noun
Definitions
  1. A boggy place. Prov. Eng. & Scot.
  2. The noise made by anything falling into a hole, or into a soft, miry place. Scot.

Webster 1913