slumber

[ sluhm-ber ]
See synonyms for: slumberslumberedslumbering on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
  1. to sleep, especially lightly; doze; drowse.

  2. to be in a state of inactivity, negligence, quiescence, or calm: Vesuvius is slumbering.

verb (used with object)
  1. to spend or pass (time) in slumbering (often followed by away, out, or through): to slumber the afternoon away.

  2. to dispel or forget by slumbering (often followed by away): to slumber cares away.

noun
  1. Sometimes slumbers. sleep, especially light sleep.

  2. a period of sleep, especially light sleep.

  1. a state of inactivity, quiescence, etc.

Origin of slumber

1
1175–1225; (v.) Middle English slumeren, frequentative of slumen to doze, derivative of Old English slūma sleep (see -er6); compare German schlummern; (noun) Middle English slomur, slomber, derivative of the v.

Other words from slumber

  • slum·ber·er, noun
  • slum·ber·less, adjective
  • un·slum·ber·ing, adjective

Words Nearby slumber

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use slumber in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for slumber

slumber

/ (ˈslʌmbə) /


verb
  1. (intr) to sleep, esp peacefully

  2. (intr) to be quiescent or dormant

  1. (tr foll by away) to spend (time) sleeping

noun
  1. (sometimes plural) sleep

  2. a dormant or quiescent state

Origin of slumber

1
Old English slūma sleep (n); related to Middle High German slummeren, Dutch sluimeren

Derived forms of slumber

  • slumberer, noun
  • slumberless, adjective

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012