Meaning & use
slaking
Last updated
“slaking” is a form of “slake”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbuncountablechemistrytechnical
The process of adding water to quicklime so that it reacts, heats up, and turns into slaked lime.
Grammar: Used as a noun-like -ing form in technical writing: 'slaking takes several minutes'. The verb itself is transitive: 'slake the lime'.
Patterns
- slaking of lime
- slake something with water
- during slaking
Slaking of quicklime releases a lot of heat, so workers wear protective gear.
The builder added water slowly during the slaking process.
After slaking, the lime can be mixed into mortar.
verbtransitiveliterary
The act of satisfying a strong need or feeling, especially thirst, so that it becomes weaker or stops.
Grammar: Takes an object, usually thirst, hunger, or curiosity: 'slake your thirst'. More literary than 'quench'.
Patterns
- slake your thirst
- slake a desire
- slake hunger
A long drink of cold water slaked his thirst after the run.
Nothing seemed to slake her curiosity about the old house.
They stopped at a stream to slake their thirst.
Word forms
| third person singular | slakes |
|---|---|
| past tense | slaked |
| past participle | slaked |
| -ing form | slaking |
Common combinations
- slake your thirst
- He slaked his thirst with a bottle of water.
- slaking of lime
- The slaking of lime must be done outdoors.
- slake a desire
- No amount of praise could slake his desire for more.
- slaked lime
- Slaked lime is used to make whitewash.
Synonyms and how they differ
- quench
- The usual word for thirst and is more common in everyday speech; 'slake' sounds more literary.
- satisfy
- Works for needs and demands in general, but not for the chemical process.
Opposites
Word family
Commonly confused: slaking or slacking? slaking or slaking vs. soaking?
slaking vs slacking
'Slacking' means being lazy or not working hard, while 'slaking' is about satisfying thirst or treating lime.
slaking vs slaking vs. soaking
Soaking means leaving something in liquid; slaking involves a chemical reaction with water.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'slaking' correctly in its chemical sense?
Choose one answer.
Slaking in chemistry is the reaction of quicklime with water, which gives off heat. The second option confuses it with 'slacking' (being lazy), the third is ungrammatical, and the fourth is nonsense.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “slaking”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.