Definition of "slate"

slate¹

/sleɪt/

noun
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.
  Quotations
  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.
  1941 March, “Notes and News: The Demand for Slate”, in Railway Magazine, page 141
  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.
  1945 May and June, Charles E. Lee, “The Penrhyn Railway and its Locomotives—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 138
2. (uncountable) The bluish-grey colour of most slate.
3. (countable) A chalkboard, sheet of slate for writing on with chalk or with a thin rod of slate (a slate pencil) formerly commonly used by both students and teachers in schools.
  Quotations
  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."
  1918, Norman Lindsay, The Magic Pudding, Sydney: Angus and Robertson, page 12
4. (countable) A roofing-tile made of slate.
  Quotations
  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.
  1945 May and June, Charles E. Lee, “The Penrhyn Railway and its Locomotives—1”, in Railway Magazine, page 138
  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.
  2021 December 15, Robin Leleux, “Awards honour the best restoration projects: The Southeastern Commercial Restoration Award: Appledore”, in RAIL, number 946, pages 56–57
5. (countable) A record of money owed.
6. (countable, chiefly US) A list of affiliated candidates for an election.
  Quotations
  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 […]
  2023 May 8, Jonathan Head, “Thailand election: The young radicals shaking up politics”, in BBC News (World)‎
7. An artificial material resembling slate and used for the same purposes.
8. A thin plate of any material; a flake.
9. A tablet computer.
  Quotations
  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 […]
  2012, Chris Sells, Brandon Satrom, Don Box, Building Windows 8 Apps with JavaScript
10. (film) A clapperboard.
adjective
not comparable
1. Having the bluish-grey/gray colour of slate.

slate²

/sleɪt/

verb
third-person singular simple present slates, present participle slating, simple past and past participle slated
1. (transitive) To cover with slate.
2. (transitive, chiefly Britain) To criticise harshly.
3. (transitive, chiefly US) To schedule.
  Quotations
  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.
  2019 October, Tony Miles, Philip Sherratt, “EMR kicks off new era”, in Modern Railways, page 58
4. (transitive, chiefly US) To anticipate or strongly expect.
5. (transitive, regional) To set a dog upon (a person).
6. (transitive) To nominate, appoint, or designate.
7. (transitive, film) To record a synchronization mark using a clapperboard.
  Quotations
  Why You Want to Slate your Shots
  2013, Rick Smith, Kim Miller, Shoot to Sell: Make Money Producing Special Interest Videos

Definition of "slate"

slate1

noun

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adjective

slate2

verb

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slate¹

slate²