slate.
A flake or piece of certain types of stone that tend to cleave into thin layers.
Meaning & usage
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.
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.
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.
Synonym of tablet computer (“a hand-held portable computer in the form of a tablet with a touch screen interface”).
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.
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.
A record, for example, of money owed.
Put it on my slate—I’ll pay you next week.
A range of things; also, a schedule.
A collection of films released during a certain period, either from one studio or from a certain film industry (such as Hollywood) as a whole.
A group or list of candidates for appointment or election to an office; also, a group of candidates or electors with affiliated political views.
A fine-grained homogeneous sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash which has been metamorphosed so that it cleaves easily into thin layers.
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).
Where this word comes from
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.
Having the bluish-grey colour of slate (noun etymology 1, noun sense 4).
Where this word comes from
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.
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.
To 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.
To 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.
To 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.
To provide synchronization information about (a scene, take, etc., of a film recording) using a slate (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.3.1).
To scrape (an animal hide) with a slater (“blade originally made of slate”) to remove hairs.
To cover a building, or part of a building with slates (noun etymology 1, noun sense 1.1).
To provide a film recording with synchronization information, especially using a slate (noun etymology 1, noun sense 2.3.1).
Where this word comes from
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.
To scold (someone) harshly; to chastise, to excoriate, to lambaste.
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.
To treat (an enemy) harshly.
To beat or thrash (someone) harshly.
To knock the hat of (someone) forward over their eyes as a joke.
Where this word comes from
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.
Synonym of slating (“a harsh criticism”).
Where this word comes from
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.
To set (one or more dogs) on a person or animal; to sic.
To set one or more dogs on (a person or animal).
Where this word comes from
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.
A dirty or slovenly person.
Where this word comes from
Possibly borrowed from Scots slait, slate (“dirty, slovenly, or objectionable person”), further etymology unknown.
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Definitions, grammatical labels, IPA, etymology and examples: Wiktionary contributors, extracted by Kaikki / Wiktextract. Adapted under CC BY-SA 4.0. Selected fields and authored examples are shown; third-party quotations and audio are omitted. See contributor history.
Last enriched 2026-09-10. Definitions are in English. Romanizations are shown when supplied by the source; syllable estimates are omitted for unsupported scripts.