noun
Uncommon
slate
slayt
Slate (noun) means a fine-grained gray rock that splits easily into thin flat sheets, often used for roofing. Example: “The old cottage still has its original slate roof.”
noun
1
A fine-grained gray rock that splits easily into thin flat sheets, often used for roofing.
"The old cottage still has its original slate roof."
"Rain dripped from the edge of the grey slate tiles."
"The children wrote their names on a small piece of slate."
2
A list of candidates or a planned schedule of activities.
"The party announced its slate of candidates for the local election."
"We have a busy slate of meetings this week."
"The committee has put together an exciting slate of speakers for the conference."
verb
1
To schedule or plan something.
"The movie is slated for release next spring."
"The new bridge is slated to open before the end of the year."
"The council has slated the old library for refurbishment next month."
2
To criticize harshly.
"Critics slated the film for its weak script."
"The newspaper slated the singer's latest album as dull and lazy."
"He was slated by reviewers for the clumsy acting."
How to use slate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe gray roofing rock, or figuratively, a planned list or schedule of things — also, in British English, to criticize harshly.
UK vs US
"To slate" meaning "to criticize" is mainly British usage; Americans mostly use "slate" only for scheduling or the rock/list senses.
Common pairings
slated for release
a slate of candidates
clean slate
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Word forms
- Plural
- slates
- Third person singular
- slates
- Past tense
- slated
- Comparative
- more slate
- Superlative
- most slate
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The old cottage still has its original _____ roof.
Etymology
From Old French esclate, related to esclater ("to break, shatter"), ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to split."
Related words
Rhymes for slate
See all rhymes for slate →Frequently asked questions
What does “slate” mean?
The word “slate” means a fine-grained gray rock that splits easily into thin flat sheets, often used for roofing. In plain terms, the gray roofing rock, or figuratively, a planned list or schedule of things — also, in British English, to criticize harshly.
How do you pronounce “slate”?
“Slate” is pronounced slayt (/sleɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “slate” in a sentence?
Here is “slate” used in a sentence: “The old cottage still has its original slate roof.”
What part of speech is “slate”?
Depending on how it is used, “slate” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “slate” come from?
The word “slate” comes from Old French. From Old French esclate, related to esclater ("to break, shatter"), ultimately from a Germanic root meaning "to split.".
Is “slate” a common word?
“Slate” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “slate” have?
“Slate” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a fine-grained gray rock that splits easily into thin flat sheets, often used for roofing.
What is the difference between 'slate' as a rock and 'slate' as a list of candidates?
'Slate' as a rock refers to a fine-grained gray stone that splits into thin sheets, often used for roofing. 'Slate' as a list refers to a set of candidates for election or a planned schedule of activities, an unrelated figurative meaning.
What does it mean to 'slate' something in British English?
In British English, to 'slate' something means to criticize it harshly, as in 'critics slated the film.' This is an informal usage distinct from the sense of scheduling or planning something.
What does it mean when something is 'slated' to happen?
When something is 'slated' to happen, it means it has been scheduled or planned, as in 'the meeting is slated for Monday.' This usage comes from the verb sense of 'slate' meaning to schedule.
