slate
slate — adjective
1. describes a roof or other surface that has been fitted with flat, grey pieces of
describes a roof or other surface that has been fitted with flat, grey pieces of slate rock as a protective covering.
After the storm damaged their roof, the Watanabes decided to have it slated instead of tiled.
The old church with its slated roof has stood on this hill since 1820.
collocation: slated roof
Visitors admired the slated pathways leading through the village garden.
A slated balcony gives the house a more traditional look than the neighbours' modern design.
The contractor recommended a slated finish for the extension to match the original building.
用法筆記
Common in descriptions of building materials and architectural style. Less frequent than 'tiled' for roofs in everyday speech.
常見錯誤
slate — noun
1. a fine-grained, dark grey rock that splits easily into thin, flat layers, common
a fine-grained, dark grey rock that splits easily into thin, flat layers, commonly used for roofing tiles, floor tiles, and writing surfaces.
The quarry outside town has supplied slate for local buildings for over a century.
Their kitchen floor is made of polished black slate that stays cool in summer.
collocation: slate floor
A piece of slate broke off the roof during the high winds last night.
Slate is softer than granite but harder than limestone, making it ideal for roofing.
The artist used a thin sheet of slate as the base for her painting.
用法筆記
As a countable noun ('a slate'), it refers to a single piece or tile of the rock material. As an uncountable noun, it refers to the rock substance itself.
2. a writing tool used in classrooms before modern paper became common, consisting
a writing tool used in classrooms before modern paper became common, consisting of a flat piece of dark grey rock held inside a wooden border, on which children wrote with chalk.
In the school museum, the children tried writing on an old slate with a piece of chalk.
Each student in the nineteenth‑century classroom carried their own slate and cloth for erasing.
collocation: carry a slate
Grandfather showed us the slate he had used at school, still marked with faded sums.
Before paper became cheap, most children in village schools wrote their lessons on a slate.
The teacher wiped the slate clean and handed it back for the next spelling exercise.
- tablet
shorter form, but can also refer to the modern computer version
用法筆記
This sense is historical; the modern equivalent is a whiteboard or tablet computer. The phrase 'clean slate' (meaning a fresh start) comes from the practice of wiping a slate clean with a cloth.
常見錯誤
3. a small, flat computer with a touchscreen that can be operated using a finger or
a small, flat computer with a touchscreen that can be operated using a finger or a special pen, often used for reading, drawing, or browsing the internet.
Elena uses her slate for reading e‑books on the train every morning.
collocation: use a slate for [purpose]
The hospital gave each doctor a slate to access patient records during rounds.
Anh prefers a lightweight slate over a laptop for taking notes in class.
The new slate comes with a pressure‑sensitive pen that artists love for digital drawing.
Many flight attendants now carry a slate instead of a paper manual during flights.
- tablet
the standard term; 'slate' is less formal
- tablet computer
the full, more formal term
用法筆記
This sense is a modern extension of the historical 'writing tablet' meaning. It is most common in technology reviews and marketing; 'tablet' is the more standard term.
4. a list of people who have been nominated or selected to stand for election to a
a list of people who have been nominated or selected to stand for election to a political position, or to be considered for a job or role.
The party announced its slate of candidates for the upcoming city council election.
collocation: slate of candidates
Fatima was added to the board's slate of nominees for the chief executive position.
collocation: slate of nominees
Voters will choose from a slate of six people running for three open seats on the committee.
Each committee presents its own slate, and the members vote by secret ballot.
The governor reviewed the final slate before submitting it to the state legislature for approval.
用法筆記
Primarily used in American political contexts. In British English, 'shortlist' or 'list of candidates' is more common.
slate — verb
1. to arrange for something to happen at a particular time in the future, often off
to arrange for something to happen at a particular time in the future, often officially — for example, slating a product launch for January, or slating a meeting to take place next week.
The new school is slated to open in September, just in time for the autumn term.
pattern: be slated to + infinitive
Kenji's art exhibition is slated for March at the city gallery.
pattern: be slated for + time
The bridge repair project was slated to begin last spring but faced funding delays.
A public hearing is slated for next Tuesday at the town hall.
The company slated its annual conference for early November in Taipei.
- cancel
to decide that a planned event will not happen
文法句型
slate + for + noun phrase
slate + to-infinitive
用法筆記
Almost always used in the passive voice ('be slated'). The active form ('The committee slated the meeting for Monday') is much rarer and sounds more formal or official.
常見錯誤
2. to attack someone or something with very harsh public criticism, especially in a
to attack someone or something with very harsh public criticism, especially in a newspaper, review, or formal report.
The restaurant was slated by food critics for serving undercooked fish at premium prices.
pattern: slated by + critic + for + reason
Henrik's latest novel was slated in the weekend paper as dull and poorly researched.
Opposition MPs slated the government's housing plan as completely unrealistic.
The film was slated by audiences for its confusing plot and weak ending.
Teachers slated the new curriculum for placing too much pressure on young students.
- praise
to express warm approval of someone or something
文法句型
slate + object + for + noun/gerund
用法筆記
Stronger and more informal than 'criticise' or 'condemn'. Common in British journalism and entertainment reviews. Not used in American English for this meaning.
常見錯誤
3. to fit a roof, wall, or other surface with pieces of slate rock as a covering or
to fit a roof, wall, or other surface with pieces of slate rock as a covering or cladding.
The builders will slate the entire roof next week once the wooden frame is finished.
This part of Wales is known for the men who slate the roofs of old farmhouses and cottages.
collocation: slate a roof
After the renovation, the garden shed was slated to match the main house.
A team of three workers can slate an average‑sized house in about four days.
The old barn had been slated long ago, but many of the pieces had slipped out of place.
- tile
to cover with tiles (clay, concrete, etc.); 'slate' is a specific type of tile made from slate rock
文法句型
slate + noun phrase (roof, surface)
用法筆記
A technical term used mainly by builders, roofers, and architects. In everyday English, 'put slate on' or 'roof with slate' is more usual.