slate

See also: Slate

English

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /sleɪt/
  • Hyphenation: slate
  • Rhymes: -eɪt

Etymology 1

From Middle English slate, slat, slatte, sclat, sclatte, from Old French esclate, from esclat (French éclat), from Frankish *slaitan (to split, break), from Proto-Germanic *slaitijaną, causative of *slītaną (to cut up, split).

Noun

Slate

slate (countable and uncountable, plural slates)

  1. (uncountable, geology) A fine-grained homogeneous sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash which has been metamorphosed so that it cleaves easily into thin layers.
  2. (uncountable) The bluish-grey colour of most slate.
    slate colour:  
  3. (countable) A sheet of slate for writing on with chalk or with a thin rod of slate (a slate pencil) formerly commonly used by younger children for writing practice in schools.
  4. (countable) A roofing-tile made of slate.
  5. (countable) A record of money owed.
    Put it on my slate – I’ll pay you next week.
  6. (countable, chiefly US) A list of affiliated candidates for an election.
    Roy Disney led the alternative slate of directors for the stockholder vote.
  7. An artificial material resembling slate and used for the same purposes.
  8. A thin plate of any material; a flake.
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Adjective

slate (not comparable)

  1. Having the bluish-grey/gray colour of slate.
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Etymology 2

From Middle English slatten, sclatten, from the noun (see above).

Verb

slate (third-person singular simple present slates, present participle slating, simple past and past participle slated)

  1. (transitive) To cover with slate.
    The old church ledgers show that the roof was slated in 1775.
  2. (transitive, chiefly Britain) To criticise harshly.
    The play was slated by the critics.
  3. (transitive, chiefly US) To schedule.
    The election was slated for November 2nd.
  4. (transitive, chiefly US) To anticipate or strongly expect.
    The next version of our software is slated to be the best release ever.
  5. (transitive) To set a dog upon.
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References

  • slate at OneLook Dictionary Search

Anagrams

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