slate
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/sleɪt/
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A versatile term that can refer to a fine‑grained rock, a chalkboard, a list of candidates, the act of scheduling, or harsh criticism.
Examples
The artist chose slate as a smooth surface for his charcoal drawing.
She polished the slate to a glossy finish before installing it.
He wrote the answer on the slate and showed it to the class.
The slate was hung on the wall for the teacher to use.
The board approved the slate of projects for the next quarter.
Similar words
stone
slaterebuke
shale
board
tile
book
tablet
appoint
catalog
Meanings
Examples
Students sharpened their chalk before writing on the slate.
The teacher erased the mistakes on the slate with a damp cloth.
In the old classroom, each desk had a small slate for practice.
He wrote the answer on the slate and showed it to the class.
The slate was hung on the wall for the teacher to use.
She dusted the slate after the lesson ended.
The child drew a picture on the slate with colored chalk.
Similar words
chalkboard
blackboard
writing board
tablet
board
slate board
writing slate
Examples
The committee presented a slate of ten nominees.
Voters will choose from the slate on election day.
The film festival's slate includes documentaries and shorts.
The board approved the slate of projects for the next quarter.
Her slate of responsibilities grew after the promotion.
The conference slate was announced yesterday.
He reviewed the slate before making his decision.
Similar words
list
roster
lineup
catalog
schedulemenu
array
Examples
The network will slate the new series for next fall.
We need to slate the meeting before the deadline.
The editor slated the article to appear on Monday.
Management slated the rollout for Q3.
The conference slated the keynote for 10 a.m.
They slated the maintenance work for the weekend.
The director slated the rehearsal for tomorrow.
Examples
The columnist slated the policy as ineffective.
Fans slated the actor's performance after the premiere.
Critics slated the director for the film's pacing.
She slated the company's handling of the crisis.
The blog slated the new smartphone's battery life.
He slated the proposal as unrealistic.
The committee slated the budget cuts as harmful.
Similar words
criticize
censure
condemn
denounce
rebuke
lampoon
pan
Etymology
From Middle English slat, from Old French esclate ‘fragment’, related to slat ‘thin piece of wood’.
FAQ
Slate is a fine‑grained metamorphic rock that splits into thin layers and is used for roofing, flooring, and writing surfaces.
How is slate used as a writing surface?
A slate is a flat board, traditionally made of stone, on which chalk is written, commonly used in schools.
What does it mean to slate a meeting?
To slate a meeting means to schedule it for a specific date or time.
How does slate differ from a list of candidates?
In this sense, a slate is a complete set of candidates or items, such as a full slate of nominees for an election.
What does it mean to slate someone?
To slate someone is to criticize or denounce them harshly.
What is the past tense of the verb slate?
The past tense and past participle are both slated.
Where does the word slate come from?
It derives from Middle English slat, from Old French esclate meaning ‘fragment’, related to the word slat.
Are there any common mistakes with slate?
A common mistake is using slate for the rock when the intended meaning is to schedule an event, or vice versa.
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