slate

UK: /ˈsleɪt/ US: /sleɪt/ ,(slāt)

Inflections of 'slate' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

slates

v 3rd person singular

slating

v pres p

slated

v past

slated

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

slate¹ /sleɪt/   n., v., slat•ed, slat•ing. 
n. 

1. Rocks [uncountable] a fine-grained rock formed from clay, shale, etc., that tends to split into thin plates
2. Rocks [countable] a thin piece of this rock or a similar material, used esp. for roofing or as a writing surface.
3. [uncountable] a dull, dark bluish gray.
4. Government [countable] a list of candidates, etc., considered for nomination or election.

v. [~ + object]

5. to cover with or as if with slate.
6. Government to write or set down (someone or someone's name) to be nominated or appointed:
   [usually: be + ~-ed] She is slated to be the new dean.
7. to plan or designate (something) for a particular place and time;
   schedule:
   [usually: be + ~-ed] He is slated to arrive at three.

Idioms

8. Idioms a clean slate, [countable] a clean record;
   a record that has no history or evidence of wrongdoing:
   She started here with a clean slate.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

slate¹  (slāt), n., v., slat•ed, slat•ing. 
n. 

1. Rocks a fine-grained rock formed by the metamorphosis of clay, shale, etc., that tends to split along parallel cleavage planes, usually at an angle to the planes of stratification.
2. Rocks a thin piece or plate of this rock or a similar material, used esp. for roofing or as a writing surface.
3. a dull, dark bluish gray.
4. Government a list of candidates, officers, etc., to be considered for nomination, appointment, election, or the like.
5. clean slate, an unsullied record;
   a record marked by creditable conduct:
   to start over with a clean slate.

v.t. 

6. to cover with or as with slate.
7. Government to write or set down for nomination or appointment:
   the district leader slated for city judge.
8. to plan or designate (something) for a particular place and time;
   schedule:
   The premiere was slated for January.
9. to censure or criticize harshly or violently;
   scold.
10. to punish severely.

• Middle French esclate, feminine of esclat piece split off; see slat¹
• Middle English sclate 1300–50

slate²  (slāt), v.t., slat•ed, slat•ing. [Brit.]

1. to sic or set a dog on (a person or animal).

• Old Norse *sleita; cognate with Old English slǣtan
• Middle English slayten 1300–50

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

slate / sleɪt/ noun

1. a compact fine-grained metamorphic rock formed by the effects of heat and pressure on shale. It can be split into thin layers along natural cleavage planes and is used as a roofing and paving material
2. (as modifier): a slate tile
3. a roofing tile of slate
4. (formerly) a writing tablet of slate
5. a dark grey colour, often with a purplish or bluish tinge
6. a list of candidates in an election
7. clean slate ⇒ a record without dishonour
8. have a slate loose ⇒ to be eccentric
9. to have a mental illness
10. on the slate ⇒ on credit

verb (transitive)

1. to cover (a roof) with slates
2. to enter (a person's name) on a list, esp on a political slate

adjective

1. of the colour slate

Etymology: 14th Century: from Old French esclate, from esclat a fragment; see slat¹

slate / sleɪt/ verb (transitive)

1. to criticize harshly; censure

Etymology: 19th Century: probably from slate¹