slave

/sleɪv/

/sleɪv/

Other forms: slaves; slaving; slaved

Someone who is forcibly held in servitude is called a slave. The practice of owning slaves is immoral and detestable.

Throughout history there have been slaves, and in some parts of the world some people still force others into slavery. Often the word is used more loosely. You might buy a lot of clothes because you're a slave to the latest fashion trends. You could spend all day in the kitchen, preparing 12 casseroles, working like a slave. That kind of exaggeration is common, but don't kid yourself: nothing is really similar to — or as horrible as — being a slave.

Definitions of slave

1. noun

   a person who is owned by someone
   examples:

   Dred Scott

   United States slave who sued for liberty after living in a non-slave state; caused the Supreme Court to declare the Missouri Compromise unconstitutional (1795?-1858)

   Nat Turner

   United States slave and insurrectionist who in 1831 led a rebellion of slaves in Virginia; he was captured and executed (1800-1831)

   Denmark Vesey

   United States freed slave and insurrectionist in South Carolina who was involved in planning an uprising of slaves and was hanged (1767-1822)

   types:

   bondman, bondsman

   a male enslaved person

   bondmaid, bondswoman, bondwoman

   a female slave

   bond servant

   someone bound to labor without wages

   creature, puppet, tool

   a person who is controlled by others and is used to perform unpleasant or dishonest tasks for someone else

   galley slave

   a slave condemned to row in a galley

   bondman, bondsman

   a male bound to serve without wages

   bondmaid, bondswoman, bondwoman

   a female bound to serve without wages

   thrall

   someone held in bondage

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
2. noun

   someone entirely dominated by some influence or person
   “a slave to fashion”

   “his mother was his abject slave”

   type of:

   individual, mortal, person, somebody, someone, soul

   a human being
3. noun

   someone who works very hard
   type of:

   worker

   a person who works at a specific occupation
4. verb

   work very hard, like a slave
   synonyms: break one's back, buckle down, knuckle down

   type of:

   do work, work

   be employed