slate
nounadjectiveverbverbnounverbnounattested in dialogue
- United States//sleɪt//
- Scotland//slet//
A flake or piece of certain types of stone that tend to cleave into thin layers. A piece of such stone, usually cut into a rectangular shape, used as a tile for flooring, roofing, etc.; (uncountable) such tiles collectively, or the material from which they are made.
noun
- 1
A flake or piece of certain types of stone that tend to cleave into thin layers. A piece of such stone, usually cut into a rectangular shape, used as a tile for flooring, roofing, etc.; (uncountable) such tiles collectively, or the material from which they are made.
Some of the minor Welsh 2 ft. gauge railways, we hear from Mr. N. F. G. Dalston, are enjoying a miniature boom owing to the demand for slate for the repair of damaged roofs.
In 1765 only 80 men were employed, and the annual output of slates did not exceed 1,000 tons, and large-scale quarrying was not begun by Lord Penrhyn until 1782.
The necessary works were extensive and included replacing missing and damaged slates and other roof repairs (in order to make the building watertight), pointing and drainpipe replacement, and extensive replacement of rotten floorboarding.
- 2
A flake or piece of certain types of stone that tend to cleave into thin layers. A piece of other material used as a roofing tile.
- 3
A generally rectangular piece, originally of certain types of stone and now of other materials, often in a frame, used for writing on with a thin rod of the same or another stone (a slate pencil) or with chalk; a small chalkboard.
He wrote all down one side of the slate and all up the other, and then remarked--"As there's no time to finish that, The time has come to have our chat."
- 4
Synonym of tablet computer (“a hand-held portable computer in the form of a tablet with a touch screen interface”).
Hearing Steve Ballmer and others talk about the availability of Windows 8 on slates, laptops, netbooks, notebooks, and screens from 7 to 70 inches might lead us to believe that Microsoft is attempting to gain market share solely through […]
- 5
Synonym of clapperboard (“a device consisting of a board on which information about a film being recorded is noted, and a hinged piece which is brought down on the board with a clap at the start and end of each take of the film; it is used to synchronize picture and sound during editing”). A sequentially numbered session of recording a film.
- 6
Synonym of clapperboard (“a device consisting of a board on which information about a film being recorded is noted, and a hinged piece which is brought down on the board with a clap at the start and end of each take of the film; it is used to synchronize picture and sound during editing”). Information about a film recording which is inserted at the start of the recording, or printed on a videotape label etc.
- 7
figurativeA record, for example, of money owed.
Put it on my slate—I’ll pay you next week.
- 8
figurativeA range of things; also, a schedule.
The Chairman James Kaplan tended to his busy slate of record and film projects, while Mia, too, actively sought movie work, somewhat to her husband's chagrin.
If it sounds like an impossibly busy slate, it turned out to be just that.
- 9
figurativeA collection of films released during a certain period, either from one studio or from a certain film industry (such as Hollywood) as a whole.
Like many independents that have established a strong if narrow niche, Central Park says it prospers when "A" titles are in short supply, but Pascuzzi much prefers a crowded slate because of trickle-down economics.
MVL Film Finance LLC (MVL) was created to partially finance Marvel Studios' production of a slate of 10 live-action or animated films based on up to 10 of Marvel's comic book characters[…]
This overcrowded blockbuster slate has led to the death of the respectable mid-budget movie, which has arguably migrated to prestige television along with writers, directors and actors.
- 10
figurativeA group or list of candidates for appointment or election to an office; also, a group of candidates or electors with affiliated political views.
Ice is one of a slate of young, idealistic candidates for Move Forward who have joined mainstream politics in the hope that this election allows Thailand to break the cycle of military coups […]
- 11
A fine-grained homogeneous sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash which has been metamorphosed so that it cleaves easily into thin layers.
The Penrhyn slate quarry possibly dates back to the sixteenth century, as it appears that in 1580 Sion Tudor asked the Bishop of Bangor for a shipload of slate.
- 12
A fine-grained homogeneous sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash which has been metamorphosed so that it cleaves easily into thin layers. The bluish-grey colour of most slate (etymology 1, noun sense 4).
Etymology
The noun is derived from Middle English sclate, slat, slate (“type of rock; roofing slate; writing slate”), from Old French esclate, a feminine form of esclat (“broken piece, shard”) (modern French éclat), from Old French esclater (“to break, shatter”), from Frankish *slaitijan (“to split, break”), from Proto-Germanic *slaitijaną, the causative of *slītaną (“to cut up, split”); further etymology unknown (see the Proto-Germanic entry for a discussion). Doublet of éclat and slat. The adjective and verb are derived from the noun.
adjective
- 1
Having the bluish-grey colour of slate (noun etymology 1, noun sense 4).
verb
- 1
To cover (a building, or part of a building such as a floor or roof) with slates (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1.1).
The old church ledgers show that the roof was slated in 1775.
- 2
figurativeTo write (something) on a writing slate (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.1). To appoint or designate (someone or something); also, to nominate or propose (someone or something); specifically (politics), to nominate or propose (a candidate) for an office.
- 3
figurativeTo write (something) on a writing slate (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.1). To expect (something) with a (strong) degree of certainty; to anticipate, to predict.
The next version of our software is slated to be the best release ever.
- 4
figurativeTo write (something) on a writing slate (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.1). To plan or schedule (something).
The election was slated for November 2nd.
The Cleethorpes to Barton-on-Humber branch had been slated to transfer from Northern into the East Midlands franchise, but this move is still awaiting a DfT decision.
- 5
To provide synchronization information about (a scene, take, etc., of a film recording) using a slate (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.3.1).
Why You Want to Slate your Shots
- 6
To scrape (an animal hide) with a slater (“blade originally made of slate”) to remove hairs.
- 7
To cover a building, or part of a building with slates (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1.1).
- 8
To provide a film recording with synchronization information, especially using a slate (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.3.1).
verb
- 1
To scold (someone) harshly; to chastise, to excoriate, to lambaste.
"I'm awfully sorry if I gave it to her too hot; she deserved it; but i did not want to be a brute." / "But you were," said Pattie with grave regret. / "If I was, Val slated me hard enough. So we may cry quits over that!" said Gip, her gleam of repentance passing into space and her naughty passions once more triumphant.
- 2
To scold (someone) harshly; to chastise, to excoriate, to lambaste. To criticize or critique (an author or a work) harshly; to castigate.
The play was slated by the critics.
It makes me mad to hear that wretched Mouse, when he wants to slate a very good novel, declare that there is no romance in real life.
- 3
slangTo treat (an enemy) harshly.
Now we shall get "slated," I thought, if there is any one there: a few good shots might have picked off every one on deck.
- 4
slangTo beat or thrash (someone) harshly.
"Does John Barker live here?" asks Thurnall, putting his head in cautiously for fear of drunken Irishmen, who might be seized with the national impulse to "slate" him.
- 5
obsoleteTo knock the hat of (someone) forward over their eyes as a joke.
Etymology
The verb is probably derived from slate (“flake or piece of certain types of stone that tend to cleave into thin layers; fine-grained homogeneous sedimentary rock which cleaves easily into thin layers”, noun) (etymology 1; possibly alluding to the sharpness of such rock). The noun is derived from the verb.
noun
- 1
datedSynonym of slating (“a harsh criticism”).
[Thomas] Carlyle's savage "slate" of him [Frederick Marryat] is unjust to a degree which can only be palliated by the fact that it was founded on a hasty reading of his books in the evil days after the loss of the manuscript of the French Revolution.
verb
- 1
To set (one or more dogs) on a person or animal; to sic.
- 2
To set one or more dogs on (a person or animal).
Etymology
From Middle English slaiten, slat, slate (“to set (a dog) on an animal”), from Old Norse *sleita, possibly related to Proto-Germanic *slītaną (“to tear apart”), further etymology unknown.
noun
- 1
archaicA dirty or slovenly person.
Had aff [hold off], quoth ſhe, ye filthy Slate, / Ye ſtink o' Leeks, O figh!
Etymology
Possibly borrowed from Scots slait, slate (“dirty, slovenly, or objectionable person”), further etymology unknown.
Forms
- plural
- slates
- comparative
- more slate
- superlative
- most slate
- past tense
- slated
- past participle
- slated
- present participle
- slating
- third person singular
- slates
slate · A flake or piece of certain types of stone that tend to cleave into thin layers. A piece of such stone, usually cut into a rectangular shape, used as…
Slate · A surname.slater · One who lays slates, or whose occupation is to slate…Slater · A surname originating as an occupation.