1
: a piece of construction material (such as laminated rock) prepared as a shingle for roofing and siding
2
: a dense fine-grained metamorphic rock produced by the compression of various sediments (such as clay or shale) so as to develop a characteristic cleavage
3
: a tablet (as of slate) used for writing on
4
a
: a written or unwritten record (as of deeds)
started with a clean slate
b
: a list of candidates for nomination or election
5
a
: a dark purplish gray
b
: any of various grays similar in color to common roofing slates
slate
adjective
slated; slating
1
: to cover (something) with slate or a slatelike substance
slate a roof
2
: to designate (someone or something) for a specified purpose or action occurring especially at a fixed time
was slated to direct the play
The new model is slated [=scheduled] for release early next year.
slated; slating
1
: to thrash or pummel severely
2
chiefly British
: to criticize or censure severely
Synonyms
Verb (1)
Verb (2)
- bash
- baste
- bat
- batter
- beat
- belabor
- belt
- birch
- bludgeon
- buffet
- bung up
- club
- curry
- do
- drub
- fib [British]
- flog
- hammer
- hide
- lace
- lambaste
- lambast
- lash
- lather
- lick
- maul
- mess (up)
- paddle
- pelt
- pommel
- pound
- pummel
- punch out
- rough (up)
- slog
- switch
- tan
- thrash
- thresh
- thump
- tromp
- wallop
- whale
- whip
- whop
- whap
- whup
- work over
Examples of slate in a Sentence
Noun
Some school blackboards are made of slate.
The house has a slate roof.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
The company had recommended a slate of directors that did not include Peltz or Rasulo.
—David Hamilton, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
Almost exactly a year ago, Jio Studios had launched a slate of 100 new films and TV shows.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Now, as this new leadership selects a prime minister and a full slate of cabinet ministers, the power sharing must stop.
—Pierre Esperance, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024
Disney has offered its own slate of 12 nominees, including two new board members.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
This spring, we’re showered with an intriguing slate of openings across the country—which are sparking joy for you?
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Their four-game slate: Monday at Toronto (7 p.m., Bally Sports Florida), Tuesday at Montreal (7 p.m., Bally Sports Florida), Thursday at Ottawa (7 p.m., Bally Sports Florida) and Saturday at Boston (3:30 p.m., ABC).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
The musicians join an impressive performance slate, which was first announced last week and also includes Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, NEEDTOBREATHE, Sam Hunt and Trisha Yearwood, as well as this year's host, Kelsea Ballerini.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 4 Apr. 2024
The Loomis location was previously slated to open in April, The Sacramento Bee reported in 2023.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
The Mean Girls musical pulled in $104 million globally after it was originally slated for a streaming release.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Lewisburg was at one point slated to lose more than four dozen homes to the coming Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.
—The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
The 2024 total solar eclipse, slated for April 8, is just days away, and there are plenty of precautions to take to ensure a safe and fun viewing experience.
—Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The show is slated to run a few more weeks, though Domig hopes that may not be the end of its life.
—Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Demolition is slated for October to make room for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium for the relocating Oakland Athletics — part of Las Vegas’ latest rebrand as a hub for sports entertainment.
—Rio Yamat, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Stars such as Justin Timberlake, Jelly Roll and Tate McRae are slated to perform.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
Noun
California and the Sacramento area have taken the opposite approach, becoming, a sanctuary for trans individuals, and passing a slate of bills aimed at protecting LGBTQ youth and adults.
—Jenavieve Hatch, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
The company had recommended a slate of directors that did not include Peltz or Rasulo.
—David Hamilton, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
Almost exactly a year ago, Jio Studios had launched a slate of 100 new films and TV shows.
—Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 3 Apr. 2024
Now, as this new leadership selects a prime minister and a full slate of cabinet ministers, the power sharing must stop.
—Pierre Esperance, Foreign Affairs, 2 Apr. 2024
Disney has offered its own slate of 12 nominees, including two new board members.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
This spring, we’re showered with an intriguing slate of openings across the country—which are sparking joy for you?
—Todd Plummer, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Apr. 2024
Their four-game slate: Monday at Toronto (7 p.m., Bally Sports Florida), Tuesday at Montreal (7 p.m., Bally Sports Florida), Thursday at Ottawa (7 p.m., Bally Sports Florida) and Saturday at Boston (3:30 p.m., ABC).
—Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 1 Apr. 2024
The musicians join an impressive performance slate, which was first announced last week and also includes Bailey Zimmerman, Jelly Roll, Jordan Davis, Keith Urban, Lainey Wilson, NEEDTOBREATHE, Sam Hunt and Trisha Yearwood, as well as this year's host, Kelsea Ballerini.
—Charlotte Phillipp, Peoplemag, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Much of the label’s discography is now available digitally via Numero Group, with several physical LP reissues and box sets slated for next year.
—Chris Eggertsen, Billboard, 4 Apr. 2024
The Loomis location was previously slated to open in April, The Sacramento Bee reported in 2023.
—Hanh Truong, Sacramento Bee, 4 Apr. 2024
The Mean Girls musical pulled in $104 million globally after it was originally slated for a streaming release.
—Mia Galuppo, The Hollywood Reporter, 4 Apr. 2024
Lewisburg was at one point slated to lose more than four dozen homes to the coming Brent Spence Bridge Corridor Project.
—The Enquirer, 3 Apr. 2024
The 2024 total solar eclipse, slated for April 8, is just days away, and there are plenty of precautions to take to ensure a safe and fun viewing experience.
—Marina Johnson, The Indianapolis Star, 3 Apr. 2024
The show is slated to run a few more weeks, though Domig hopes that may not be the end of its life.
—Sarah Bahr, New York Times, 3 Apr. 2024
Demolition is slated for October to make room for a $1.5 billion Major League Baseball stadium for the relocating Oakland Athletics — part of Las Vegas’ latest rebrand as a hub for sports entertainment.
—Rio Yamat, Quartz, 2 Apr. 2024
Stars such as Justin Timberlake, Jelly Roll and Tate McRae are slated to perform.
—Catherine Santino, Peoplemag, 2 Apr. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near slate
Cite this Entry
“Slate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slate. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
slate
1 of 2 noun1
: a piece of construction material (as layered rock) prepared as a shingle for roofing and siding
2
: a dense fine-grained rock formed by compression of shales or other rocks that splits readily into thin layers or plates
3
: a tablet of material (as slate) used for writing on
4
a
: a written or unwritten record (as of deeds)
started with a clean slate
b
: a list of candidates for nomination or election
5
a
: a dark purplish gray
b
: a gray similar in color to common roofing slate
slate
adjective
slate
2 of 2 verb
slated; slating
1
: to cover with slate or a slatelike substance
slate a roof
2
: to register or schedule for a special purpose or action
slate a meeting
slater
noun
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