Weak
Pronunciation
- enPR: wÄ“k, IPA: /wiËk/
- Rhymes: -iËk
- Homophones: week
Origin
From Middle English weike, from Old Norse veikr ("weak"), cognate with Old English wÄ«can ("to yield"). Proto-Indo-European base *weik- ("to bend, wind"). Replaced the native Old English wÄc. Compare German weich, Dutch week.
Full definition of weak
Adjective
weak
- Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability.The child was too weak to move the boulder.They easily guessed his weak computer password.
- Shakespearea poor, infirm, weak, and despised old man
- Drydenweak with hunger, mad with love
- Unable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain.a weak timber; a weak rope
- Unable to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable.weak resolutions; weak virtue
- Joseph Addison, The Fair Petinent Act I, scene I:Guard thy heart
On this weak side, where most our nature fails. - Dilute, lacking in taste or potency.
- 1918, W. B. Maxwell, The Mirror and the Lamp Chapter 2, That the young Mr. Churchills liked—but they did not like him coming round of an evening and drinking weak whisky-and-water while he held forth on railway debentures and corporation loans. Mr. Barrett, however, by fawning and flattery, seemed to be able to make not only Mrs. Churchill but everyone else do what he desired.
- We were served stale bread and weak tea.
- (grammar) Displaying a particular kind of inflection, including:
- (Germanic languages, of verbs) Regular in inflection, lacking vowel changes and having a past tense with -d- or -t-.
- (Germanic languages, of nouns) Showing less distinct grammatical endings.
- (Germanic languages, of adjectives) Definite in meaning, often used with a definite article or similar word.
- (physics) One of the four fundamental forces associated with nuclear decay.
- (slang) Bad or uncool.This place is weak.
- (mathematics, logic) Having a narrow range of logical consequences; narrowly applicable. (Often contrasted with a strong statement which implies it.)
- Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.
- MiltonIf evil thence ensue,
She first his weak indulgence will accuse. - Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained.The prosecution advanced a weak case.
- Miltonconvinced of his weak arguing
- Lacking in vigour or expression.a weak sentence; a weak style
- Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble.
- Shakespeareweak prayers
- (stock exchange) Tending towards lower prices.a weak market
Synonyms
- (lacking in force or ability) feeble, frail, powerless, vincible, assailable ,vulnerable
- (lacking in taste or potency) dilute, watery