slate
slate — noun
1. a natural building stone, dark grey in colour, that can be divided into thin, fl
a natural building stone, dark grey in colour, that can be divided into thin, flat sheets and used mainly for roof coverings
The old cottage on the hill still has its original slate roof.
collocation: slate roof
Workers carried heavy pieces of slate up the ladder to repair the chapel roof.
The quarry near Lakan's village produces high-quality slate for building projects.
Slate splits easily along its natural layers, making it ideal for roof tiles.
用法筆記
Often used as an uncountable noun when referring to the rock material itself: 'a roof made of slate'.
常見錯誤
2. a thin slate slab held inside a wooden border, used in earlier times by schoolch
a thin slate slab held inside a wooden border, used in earlier times by schoolchildren for writing and drawing with chalk
In the nineteenth century, children wrote their daily lessons on a small slate.
historical classroom use: children wrote on a slate
Aoi's grandmother showed her the wooden-framed slate she had used at school.
The museum displayed a slate with faint chalk writing still visible on its surface.
Teachers would walk around the classroom checking each student's slate for correct answers.
- tablet
a general term for a flat writing surface; can be made of clay, wax, or stone
- writing board
a modern equivalent made of plastic or wood, not slate
用法筆記
This sense is now historical. Before paper became cheap and widely available, slates were reusable writing surfaces — students wiped their work clean with a cloth.
3. a touch-screen device that lets you write, draw, or read digital content, usuall
a touch-screen device that lets you write, draw, or read digital content, usually with a stylus
Eitan uses a slate to take notes during lectures instead of a paper notebook.
purpose: note-taking during lectures
The hospital gave each nurse a slate for quickly recording patient information.
Camila downloaded a drawing app on her slate and started sketching portraits.
Modern slates are lighter and more powerful than the first tablet computers from 2010.
- tablet
the more common modern term for a touch-screen computer
- tablet computer
the formal term; less common in everyday speech
用法筆記
In modern usage, 'tablet' is more common than 'slate' for this device. 'Slate' was more frequent in the early 2010s when these products first appeared.
4. the names of individuals put forward or evaluated for a particular role, especia
the names of individuals put forward or evaluated for a particular role, especially political office in an election
The party has not yet announced its full slate of candidates for the coming election.
pattern: slate of candidates
Christopher's name was on the short slate for the position of school board chair.
Voters received a ballot showing the slate of nominees from all three parties.
The committee prepared a slate of three finalists for the CEO position at the bank.
- list of candidates
a more general and neutral term; less specialized than 'slate'
- shortlist
a smaller, final list of the most suitable candidates
- ticket
specifically the list of candidates from one political party in an election
用法筆記
Most common in US political contexts. 'Slate of candidates' can also be extended to non-political groups, such as a board of directors or award nominees.
常見錯誤
5. a complete set of things, such as programmes, products, or events, that have bee
a complete set of things, such as programmes, products, or events, that have been planned or are expected
The streaming service announced its slate of original series for the coming year.
pattern: slate of [programmes/products/events]
The publisher agreed to buy Vivek's full slate of mystery novels for the series.
Salma's team is working through a heavy slate of software updates this quarter.
The university's slate of new courses next semester includes twenty fresh options.
用法筆記
Typically followed by 'of' + noun phrase describing the type of items (films, products, courses, etc.). Often paired with 'full' or 'entire'.
slate — verb
1. of an event, to be set for a specific time that lies ahead; or of a person, to b
of an event, to be set for a specific time that lies ahead; or of a person, to be picked for a particular duty or role
The new hospital is slated to open in March next year.
passive: be slated to + infinitive
Niran is slated to give the opening speech at the graduation ceremony.
The meeting was slated for Tuesday, but it has been postponed until Thursday.
Three new bridges in the region are slated for construction starting this summer.
The film is slated to begin production in early 2026 with a modest budget.
文法句型
be slated to + infinitive
be slated for + noun phrase
用法筆記
Almost always used in the passive voice: 'be slated to + verb' or 'be slated for + noun'. The active form ('The company slates the meeting for Tuesday') is very rare and sounds unnatural.
常見錯誤
2. to criticize someone or something very harshly in a public statement, article, o
to criticize someone or something very harshly in a public statement, article, or review — for example, a critic slating a film for being badly acted
Critics slated the director's latest film for its weak script and poor acting.
pattern: slate + [something] + for + [reason]
The newspaper article slated the government's handling of the housing crisis.
Léa's proposal was slated by the board for being far too expensive to implement.
Food reviewers slated the new restaurant for its slow service and cold dishes.
文法句型
slate + noun/pronoun + for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Much stronger than 'criticize' and closer in force to 'condemn'. Common in British journalism and review writing. The subject is typically a critic, reviewer, or journalist.
常見錯誤
3. the trade activity of putting slate tiles onto a building's roof to make it weat
the trade activity of putting slate tiles onto a building's roof to make it weatherproof
The builder learnt how to slate a roof during his three-year apprenticeship.
trade skill: learning to slate a roof
The old farmhouse on the hill needs to be slated again before the winter rains.
It took two weeks for Ishaan's team to completely slate the new chapel roof.
The church hired a specialist to slate the tower, which had been leaking for years.
- roof
a general verb for covering a roof with any material; less specific than 'slate'
文法句型
slate + noun (roof / building)
用法筆記
A specialized trade term used mostly by builders, roofers, and architects. The more common expression is 'roof with slate' or 'cover with slate tiles'.
slate — adjective
1. having a dark grey colour with a slight blue tone, similar to the colour of slat
having a dark grey colour with a slight blue tone, similar to the colour of slate rock
Min wore a smart slate suit to the job interview at the law firm.
collocation: slate suit (clothing)
The living room walls were painted a calming shade of slate grey.
collocation: slate grey (paint colour)
The winter sky turned a deep slate colour just before the snow began to fall.
Hannah adopted a cat with beautiful slate fur and bright green eyes from the shelter.
用法筆記
Often used in compound colour names: 'slate grey', 'slate blue', 'slate black'. The colour is considered neutral and is popular in interior design and fashion.