Reading Theme:
Slave Definition, Examples & Common Usage (3 meaning)
Meaning 1：enslaved person (slave)
slave
/sleɪv/
n.
In history, a person who is owned by another person and forced to work without pay or freedom.
enslaved person
➕
/ɪnˈsleɪvd ˈpɜːrsən/
n.
A person who is legally owned by another, forced to work without pay and without personal freedom, typically in historical contexts.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Root Explanation
From Latin 'Sclavus' (Slav), as many Slavs were enslaved in medieval times.
💡 Mnemonic
Recall 'SLAV' (Slavic people) who were often enslaved; 'e' for 'enslaved'.
📖 Example
In history class, we learned that in ancient Rome, a slave could be bought and sold just like a piece of furniture.
In history class, we learned that in ancient Rome, a slave could be bought and sold just like a piece of furniture.
🔗 Collocations
slave trade – the business of buying and selling slaves
slave labor – work performed by slaves
slave owner – a person who owns slaves
🔄 Synonyms
bondservant (n.) – a person who is bound to service without wages
serf (n.) – a peasant tied to the land in a feudal system, not free
chattel (n.) – a piece of personal property, often referring to a slave
🚫 Antonyms
🌱 Derivatives
📖 Cultural Story
Originally from Latin 'Sclavus' meaning a Slav, as many Slavs were captured and sold as slaves during the early Middle Ages. Over time, the term came to refer to any person held in bondage.
Meaning 2：addict (slave)
slave
/sleɪv/
n.
A person who is completely controlled by a habit, desire, or job, and works very hard for it.
addict
➕
/ˈædɪkt/
n.
A person who is completely devoted to a habit, desire, or job to the point of being unable to stop or think of anything else.
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
My brother is such a slave to his smartphone that he checks it every five minutes, even during dinner.
My brother is such a slave to his smartphone that he checks it every five minutes, even during dinner.
🔗 Collocations
slave to fashion – someone who obsessively follows fashion trends
slave to work – someone who works excessively hard, unable to stop
slave to technology – someone who is overly dependent on modern gadgets
🔄 Synonyms
workaholic (n.) – a person who works compulsively and cannot stop
habitue (n.) – a habitual visitor or participant, often under a strong influence
devotee (n.) – a person who is very enthusiastic about something, often to excess
🚫 Antonyms
free spirit (n.) – an independent person who does what they want without being controlled
detached person (n.) – someone who is not emotionally involved or controlled by habits
independent person (n.) – a person who makes their own choices and is not enslaved to anything
Meaning 3：controlled device (slave)
slave
/sleɪv/
n.
In technology, a device or program that is controlled by another one (called the 'master').
controlled device
➕
/kənˈtroʊld dɪˈvaɪs/
n.
In computing and electronics, a device or component that is configured to obey commands from a primary device (master).
📘 Details & Usage
📖 Example
In this old computer setup, the second hard drive was set as a slave to the primary one, meaning it just followed instructions.
In this old computer setup, the second hard drive was set as a slave to the primary one, meaning it just followed instructions.
🔗 Collocations
master-slave configuration – a setup where one device controls others
slave drive – a secondary hard drive that follows the master drive
slave node – a subordinate unit in a network or cluster
🔄 Synonyms
secondary (n.) – a device that is not primary; subordinate
subordinate (n.) – a device under the control of a master
dependent (n.) – a device that relies on another for operation
🚫 Antonyms
master (n.) – the controlling device in a master-slave arrangement
primary (n.) – the main device that gives commands
controller (n.) – a device that manages and directs others
Wordbook
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