slump

Reading level: hard

Estimated CEFR level: C2 — Proficiency

Estimated from word frequency; not an official CEFR classification.

Definition

  1. noun a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality
  2. noun a long-term economic state characterized by unemployment and low prices and low levels of trade and investment
  3. verb assume a drooping posture or carriage

Etymology

Probably of North Germanic origin: compare Danish slumpe (“to stumble upon by chance”), Norwegian slumpe (“happen by chance”), Norwegian slumpa (“happen by chance”), Swedish slumpa (“randomize; to sell off”), Swedish slump (“chance, randomness, happenstance”). Compare also German schlumpen (“to trail; draggle; be sloppy”), dialectal Dutch slompen (“to walk clumsily”).

In classic literature

Synonyms

slack, drop-off, falloff, falling off

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