SLATES | English Meaning, Definition, and Pronunciation

Middle English sclate, sklate, shortening of Old French esclate, feminine synonymous with esclat ‘piece broken off’ (see slat)

a fine-grained grey, green, or bluish-purple metamorphic rock easily split into smooth, flat plates

fine-grained grey, green, or bluish-purple metamorphic rock easily split into smooth, flat plates

• slate quarries
• a slate floor

a flat plate of slate formerly used for writing on in schools

flat plate of slate formerly used for writing on in schools

• the teacher was demonstrating, the children copying on to slates

a bluish-grey colour

bluish-grey colour

• suits of slate grey

a list of candidates for election to a post or office, typically a group sharing a set of political views

list of candidates for election to post or office

• candidates on the left's slate won 74 per cent of constituency votes

a board showing the identifying details of a take in a film, held in front of the camera at the beginning and end of the take

board showing identifying details of take in film, held in front of camera at beginning and end of take

• the electronic time-code system allowed us to shoot with or without conventional slates

cover (something, especially a roof) with slates

cover something with slates

• he was working for his father slating a new roof
• a slated roof

criticize severely

criticize severely

• his work was slated by the critics

schedule; plan

schedule

• London shows are slated for late June
• construction is slated to begin late next year

identify (a take in a film) using a slate

identify take in film using slate

• the assistant cameraman is about to slate the scene