English Dictionary

Definition of “weak

weak (wiːkPronunciation for weak

Definitions

adjective

  1. lacking in physical or mental strength or force; frail or feeble
  2. liable to yield, break, or give way  ⇒ a weak link in a chain 
  3. lacking in resolution or firmness of character
  4. lacking strength, power, or intensity  ⇒ a weak voice 
  5. lacking strength in a particular part  ⇒ a team weak in defence 
    1. not functioning as well as normal  ⇒ weak eyes 
    2. easily upset  ⇒ a weak stomach 
  6. lacking in conviction, persuasiveness, etc  ⇒ a weak argument 
  7. lacking in political or strategic strength  ⇒ a weak state 
  8. lacking the usual, full, or desirable strength of flavour  ⇒ weak tea 
  9. grammar 
    1. denoting or belonging to a class of verbs, in certain languages including the Germanic languages, whose conjugation relies on inflectional endings rather than internal vowel gradation, as denoting or belonging to a class of verbs, in certain languages including the Germanic languages, whose conjugation relies on inflectional endings rather than internal vowel gradation, as look, looks, looking, looked
    2. belonging to any part-of-speech class, in any of various languages, whose inflections follow the more regular of two possible patterns Compare strong (sense 13)
  10. (of a syllable) not accented or stressed
  11. (of a fuel-air mixture) containing a relatively low proportion of fuel Compare rich (sense 13)
  12. photography having low density or contrast; thin
  13. (of an industry, market, currency, securities, etc) falling in price or characterized by falling prices

Alternative Forms

ˈweakish adjective ˈweakishly adverb ˈweakishness noun

Word Origin

Old English wāc  soft, miserable; related to Old Saxon wēk,  Old High German weih,  Old Norse veikr

Quotations

  • "The weakest goes to the wall" William Shakespeare

Translations

  • British English: weak Pronunciation for weak If someone is weak, they do not have very much strength or energy.I was too weak to move.wiːk ADJECTIVE I was too weak to move.
  • Spanish: débil Pronunciation for débil adj
  • French: faible Pronunciation for faible adj
  • German: schwach Pronunciation for schwach adj
  • Chinese: 弱的Pronunciation for 弱的 adj
  • Arabic: ضَعِيفPronunciation for ضَعِيف adj
  • Portuguese: fracoPronunciation for fraco adj fraca
  • Russian: слабыйPronunciation for слабый adj слабая
  • Croatian: slabPronunciation for slab adj slaba
  • Czech: slabýPronunciation for slabý adj
  • Danish: svagPronunciation for svag adj
  • Dutch: zwakPronunciation for zwak adj
  • Finnish: heikkoPronunciation for heikko adj
  • Greek: αδύναμοςPronunciation for αδύναμος adj αδύναμη
  • Italian: debolePronunciation for debole adj
  • Japanese: 弱いPronunciation for 弱い adj
  • Korean: 약한Pronunciation for 약한 adj
  • Norwegian: svakPronunciation for svak adj
  • Polish: słabyPronunciation for słaby adj słaba
  • Brazilian Portuguese: fracoPronunciation for fraco adj fraca
  • European Spanish: débil Pronunciation for débil adj
  • Swedish: svagPronunciation for svag adj svagt
  • Thai: อ่อนแอ Pronunciation for อ่อนแอ adj
  • Turkish: zayıfPronunciation for zayıf adj
  • Vietnamese: yếuPronunciation for yếu adj

Usage examples

  • He looked at his watch, then at Banks, and gave a weak smile.
    Peter Robinson, AFTERMATH (2001)
  • If you think Hummers are worthless and weak , the CXT is for you, hoss!
    Maxim (2004)
  • The debate has now moved onto the issue of whether the upturn will prove to be strong and sustained or weak and faltering.
    Irish Times (2002)
  • The last time the jobless rate fell was in September 2000. But news of weak manufacturing activity temporarily dampened the enthusiasm.
    Glasgow Herald (2001)
  • If the Head Line appears weak , then look to the Mercury Line, also known as the Health or Liver Line.
    Lilian Verner-Bonds, THORSONS WAY OF - PALMISTRY (2002)

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