weak

English

/wiːk/

adj
Definitions
  • Lacking in force (usually strength) or ability.
  • Unable to sustain a great weight, pressure, or strain.
  • Unable to withstand temptation, urgency, persuasion, etc.; easily impressed, moved, or overcome; accessible; vulnerable.
  • Dilute, lacking in taste or potency.
  • (grammar) Displaying a particular kind of inflection, including:
  • (chemistry) That does not ionize completely into anions and cations in a solution.
  • (physics) One of the four fundamental forces associated with nuclear decay.
  • (slang) Bad or uncool.
  • (mathematics) Having a narrow range of logical consequences; narrowly applicable. (Often contrasted with a strong statement which implies it.)
  • Resulting from, or indicating, lack of judgment, discernment, or firmness; unwise; hence, foolish.
  • Not having power to convince; not supported by force of reason or truth; unsustained.
  • Lacking in vigour or expression.
  • Not prevalent or effective, or not felt to be prevalent; not potent; feeble.
  • (stock exchange) Tending towards lower prices.
  • (photography) Lacking contrast.

Etymology

Inherited from Middle English weyk derived from Old Norse veikr (weak, soft, tender) derived from Proto-Germanic *waikwaz (yielded, pliant, weak, bendsome) derived from Proto-Indo-European *weyk- (contain, separate, bend, curve, become equal, consecrate, wind, overcome, twist, exchange, choose, sacrifice, separate out, set aside as holy, fight, turn, revolve, weed out, envelop, hallow, swing, cull, conquer, divide, weave, make holy, yield).

Origin

Proto-Indo-European

*weyk-

Gloss

contain, separate, bend, curve, become equal, consecrate, wind, overcome, twist, exchange, choose, sacrifice, separate out, set aside as holy, fight, turn, revolve, weed out, envelop, hallow, swing, cull, conquer, divide, weave, make holy, yield

Concept
Semantic Field

Possession

Ontological Category

Action/Process

Kanji

織

Emoji

Timeline

Distribution of cognates by language

Geogrpahic distribution of cognates

Cognates and derived terms