Slate
/sleɪt/
nounverbB2
Definition
As a noun, slate is a dark, flat rock that breaks into thin sheets. People use it for roofs, tiles, or old-fashioned writing boards. As a verb, "to slate" means to plan or arrange an event or task for a specific time in the future.
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See It in Action
Noun: a flat, dark rock used for roofing, tiles, or writing
- •The old house had a roof made of slate.
- •He wrote the math problems on a small slate with chalk.
- •Slate tiles covered the floor of the ancient building.
Verb: to plan or schedule something
- •The company slated the product launch for next month.
- •They slated the meeting to start at 10 a.m.
- •The film festival was slated to begin in July.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "slate" like "board" (A1 word), but made from rock and often dark and smooth
- ✓Picture a thin, flat stone tile on a roof or an old classroom writing board where you write with chalk
- ✓It's the feeling of organizing or scheduling something, like putting a meeting on a calendar
- ✓Sounds like "SLATE" → imagine sliding a flat stone smoothly across a surface like planning something carefully
- ✓Remember old school classrooms where teachers wrote on slate boards before whiteboards existed
- ✓As a noun, NOT like "wood" (soft, warm), slate is hard and cold
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "guess" (uncertain), "slate" means a firm plan or schedule
- ✓As a noun, NOT like "paper" (soft, flexible), slate is solid and reusable for writing with chalk
- ✓As a verb, NOT like "cancel" (stop), "slate" means to set or arrange something to happen
Try Other Words
- •Schedule: to arrange a time for something (Use when talking about setting a specific time or date)
- •Board: a flat surface for writing or display (Use when referring to the physical object like a chalkboard)
- •Tile: a flat piece used in building (Use when talking about slate as a material for floors or roofs)
- •Plan: to decide on actions or timing (Use when talking about organizing events or tasks)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: (no prefix or suffix) — "slate" is a simple root word
- •Etymology: From Old English "slæt," meaning a flat piece or slab of stone
- •Historical development: Originally meant a flat stone used for roofing or writing; later used figuratively to mean a clean surface or a fresh start, then as a verb meaning to schedule
- •Modern usage: Used both as a noun for the rock and as a verb meaning to plan or schedule events
Reflect & Connect
•How does the idea of a "clean slate" relate to starting something new in your life or work?
•In what situations might you hear "slate" used as a verb instead of as a noun?
Fill in the blanks
1.The old cottage had a roof made of ___ tiles that lasted many years.
2.The director ___ the movie premiere for next spring after finishing the editing.
3.When you start a new project, it’s like having a ___—a fresh start without mistakes.
4.The school used small ___ boards for students to practice writing with chalk.
5.The event was ___ to take place in the main hall, but the location changed later.
6.Unlike paper, a ___ can be wiped clean and used again for writing.
7.The manager ___ several meetings for the week to discuss the new plan.