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slough (2)

slough [ sluf ] or sluff [ sluf ]


noun  (plural sloughs) (plural sluffs)
Definition:
 
1. something cast off: something discarded or shed

2. zoology dead outer covering: the dead outer skin shed by a reptile or an amphibian

3. medicine dead tissue layer: a layer of dead skin that separates from healthy skin after an infection or inflammation

4. card games discarded card: in card games, a card that has been discarded



verb  (past and past participle sloughed, present participle slough·ing, 3rd person present singular sloughs) (past and past participle sluffed, present participle sluff·ing, 3rd person present singular sluffs)
Definition:
 
1. transitive and intransitive verb cast something off: to shed something, or be shed
Snakes slough off their dead skins.

2. transitive verb discard something or somebody: to get rid of somebody or something that is no longer wanted or needed
She sloughs off friends when she no longer has a use for them.

3. transitive verb ignore something: to pay no attention to something

4. transitive verb regional skip something unwanted: to skip something unwanted, especially school

5. intransitive verb medicine separate from healed tissue: to separate from surrounding healthy skin ( refers to dead skin )

6. transitive and intransitive verb card games discard card: to get rid of an unwanted card

[14th century. Origin ?]

Regional History

The use of slough to mean "skip something unwanted," as in sloughing school, is a Nevada usage.

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