slump
    n 1: a noticeable deterioration in performance or quality; "the
         team went into a slump"; "a gradual slack in output"; "a
         drop-off in attendance"; "a falloff in quality" [syn:
         slump, slack, drop-off, falloff, falling off]
    2: a long-term economic state characterized by unemployment and
       low prices and low levels of trade and investment [syn:
       depression, slump, economic crisis]
    v 1: assume a drooping posture or carriage [syn: slump,
         slouch]
    2: fall or sink heavily; "He slumped onto the couch"; "My
       spirits sank" [syn: slump, slide down, sink]
    3: fall heavily or suddenly; decline markedly; "The real estate
       market fell off" [syn: slump, fall off, sink]
    4: go down in value; "the stock market corrected"; "prices
       slumped" [syn: decline, slump, correct]

Slump \Slump\, n. [Cf. D. slomp a mass, heap, Dan. slump a
   quantity, and E. slump, v.t.]
   The gross amount; the mass; the lump. [Scot.]
   [1913 Webster]

Slump \Slump\, v. t. [Cf. Lump; also Sw. slumpa to bargain for
   the lump.]
   To lump; to throw into a mess.
   [1913 Webster]

         These different groups . . . are exclusively slumped
         together under that sense.               --Sir W.
                                                  Hamilton.
   [1913 Webster]

Slump \Slump\, v. i. [imp. & p. p. Slumped; p. pr. & vb. n.
   Slumping.] [Scot. slump a dull noise produced by something
   falling into a hole, a marsh, a swamp.]
   1. To fall or sink suddenly through or in, when walking on a
      surface, as on thawing snow or ice, partly frozen ground,
      a bog, etc., not strong enough to bear the person.
      [1913 Webster]

            The latter walk on a bottomless quag, into which
            unawares they may slump.              --Barrow.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. To slide or slip on a declivity, so that the motion is
      perceptible; -- said of masses of earth or rock.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   3. To undergo a slump, or sudden decline or falling off; as,
      the stock slumped ten points. [Colloq.]
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

Slump \Slump\, n.
   1. A boggy place. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
      [1913 Webster]

   2. The noise made by anything falling into a hole, or into a
      soft, miry place. [Scot.]
      [1913 Webster]

   3. A falling or declining, esp. suddenly and markedly; a
      falling off; as, a slump in trade, in stock market prices,
      in a batter's average, etc. [Colloq.]
      [Webster 1913 Suppl. +PJC]