narrow vs slack

narrow

noun
  • A narrow passage, especially a contracted part of a stream, lake, or sea; a strait connecting two bodies of water. 

verb
  • To contract the size of, as a stocking, by taking two stitches into one. 

  • To reduce in width or extent; to contract. 

  • To convert to a data type that cannot hold as many distinct values. 

  • To partially lower one's eyelids in a way usually taken to suggest a defensive, aggressive or penetrating look. 

  • To get narrower. 

adj
  • Formed (as a vowel) by a close position of some part of the tongue in relation to the palate; or (according to Bell) by a tense condition of the pharynx; distinguished from wide. 

  • Having a small margin or degree. 

  • Parsimonious; niggardly; covetous; selfish. 

  • Having a small width; not wide; having opposite edges or sides that are close, especially by comparison to length or depth. 

  • Restrictive; without flexibility or latitude. 

  • Of little extent; very limited; circumscribed. 

  • Scrutinizing in detail; close; accurate; exact. 

slack

noun
  • A tidal marsh or shallow that periodically fills and drains. 

  • Unconditional listening attention given by client to patient. 

  • A temporary speed restriction where track maintenance or engineering work is being carried out at a particular place. 

  • The part of anything that hangs loose, having no strain upon it. 

  • Small coal; coal dust. 

  • A valley, or small, shallow dell. 

verb
  • To slacken. 

  • To lose cohesion or solidity by a chemical combination with water; to slake. 

adv
  • Slackly. 

adj
  • Moderately warm. 

  • Vulgar; sexually explicit, especially in dancehall music. 

  • Not active or busy, successful, or violent. 

  • Excess; surplus to requirements. 

  • Lax; not tense; not firmly extended. 

  • Lacking diligence or care; not earnest or eager. 

  • Lax. 

  • Moderate in speed. 

  • Weak; not holding fast. 

How often have the words narrow and slack occurred in a corpus of books? (source: Google Ngram Viewer )