slowdown

Everyday

1. A time when something becomes slower or less busy. tree →
2. (business) A drop in how much a country or company makes and sells. tree →

In the lessons

In maths and science a slowdown is a decrease in speed or rate: the car slows down from 60 to 40 mph. In news, an economic slowdown means less buying and selling. In traffic reports, a slowdown means cars move slowly. Phrases: a sharp slowdown, a slowdown in sales.

Examples

• There was a slowdown on the motorway because of an accident. tree →
• The shop noticed a slowdown in sales after Christmas. tree →
• Please slow down near the school. tree →
• The slowdown in growth worried the factory owners. tree →
• The runner's slowdown on the last lap cost him the race. tree →
• Workers held a slowdown instead of a strike. tree →

Note

The noun is one word (slowdown); the verb is two words (slow down). In maths problems a slowdown means the speed or rate goes down, so the same distance takes more time.