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Word of the day
for November 4
lame duck n
  1. (idiomatic, informal, also attributive) A person or thing that is unable to function without assistance, or which is otherwise helpless, ineffective, or inefficient.
    1. (finance) A business which is not profitable or successful; specifically (originally and chiefly UK), a private business, industry, etc., which is unable to continue without financial assistance, especially from the government.
    2. (nautical) A ship which is unable to sail properly, especially because its means of propulsion is not working; (by extension) some other type of vehicle which is unable to run.
    3. (stock market, slang, dated) A person who invests or speculates in a stock market but is unable to fulfil their contracts.
    4. (originally US, politics) A politician regarded as ineffective or unsuccessful, especially one who lost an election; specifically, an elected official or politician, an administration, etc., that has lost an election or is not eligible for reelection, and is regarded as lacking political influence or power during the remainder of a term of office.
      1. (by extension) A person who is leaving a job, position, etc., soon, and so is regarded as lacking enthusiasm, influence, or power.
  2. (computing) A server that continues to serve ongoing requests while refusing new ones, allowing for a smooth shutdown.

lame duck v (informal)

  1. (transitive)
    1. Followed by the dummy pronoun it: to behave in the manner of a lame duck (noun senses).
      1. Especially of a machine, vehicle, etc.: to operate poorly or slowly; to falter.
      2. (often politics) To continue in a job, office, etc., during the remainder of a term there, while lacking enthusiasm, influence, or power.
    2. (dated) To help or look after (someone) who is or appears to be unable to function without assistance; also, to treat (someone) as helpless, ineffective, or inefficient; to mollycoddle, to pamper.
  2. (intransitive) To behave in the manner of a lame duck (noun senses).

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