weak (wiːk
)
Definitions
adjective
- lacking in physical or mental strength or force; frail or feeble
- liable to yield, break, or give way ⇒
a weak link in a chain
- lacking in resolution or firmness of character
- lacking strength, power, or intensity ⇒
a weak voice
- lacking strength in a particular part ⇒
a team weak in defence
- not functioning as well as normal ⇒
weak eyes
- easily upset ⇒
a weak stomach
- not functioning as well as normal ⇒
- lacking in conviction, persuasiveness, etc ⇒
a weak argument
- lacking in political or strategic strength ⇒
a weak state
- lacking the usual, full, or desirable strength of flavour ⇒
weak tea
- grammar
- 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
- 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)
- (of a syllable) not accented or stressed
- (of a fuel-air mixture) containing a relatively low proportion of fuel Compare rich (sense 13)
- photography having low density or contrast; thin
- (of an industry, market, currency, securities, etc) falling in price or characterized by falling prices
Alternative Forms
ˈweakish adjective ˈweakishly adverb ˈweakishness nounWord Origin
Old English wāc soft, miserable; related to Old Saxon wēk, Old High German weih, Old Norse veikrSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
feeble,
exhausted,
frail,
debilitated,
spent,
wasted,
weakly,
tender,
delicate,
faint,
fragile,
shaky,
sickly,
languid,
puny,
decrepit,
unsteady,
infirm,
anaemic,
effete,
enervated,
=
ineffectual,
pathetic,
cowardly,
powerless,
soft,
impotent,
indecisive,
infirm,
spineless,
boneless,
timorous,
weak-kneed,
namby-pamby,
irresolute,
=
tasteless,
thin,
diluted,
watery,
runny,
insipid,
wishy-washy,
under-strength
milk-and-water,
waterish,
Quotations
"The weakest goes to the wall"
Translations
- British English:
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
adj - French:
faible
adj - German:
schwach
adj - Chinese: 弱的
adj - Arabic: ضَعِيف
adj - Portuguese: fraco
adj fraca - Russian: слабый
adj слабая - Croatian: slab
adj slaba - Czech: slabý
adj - Danish: svag
adj - Dutch: zwak
adj - Finnish: heikko
adj - Greek: αδύναμος
adj αδύναμη - Italian: debole
adj - Japanese: 弱い
adj - Korean: 약한
adj - Norwegian: svak
adj - Polish: słaby
adj słaba - Brazilian Portuguese: fraco
adj fraca - European Spanish:
débil
adj - Swedish: svag
adj svagt - Thai: อ่อนแอ
adj - Turkish: zayıf
adj - Vietnamese: yếu
adj
Usage examples
He looked at his watch, then at Banks, and gave a weak smile.
, 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.
, THORSONS WAY OF - PALMISTRY (2002)