noun

• (uncountable, geology) A fine-grained homogeneous sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash which has been metamorphosed so that it cleaves easily into thin layers.
  "Some of the minor Welsh 2 ft. gauge railways, we hear from Mr. N. F. G. Dalston, are enjoying a miniature boom owing to the demand for slate for the repair of damaged roofs."
• (uncountable) The bluish-grey colour of most slate.
• (countable) A chalkboard, sheet of slate for writing on with chalk or with a thin rod of slate (a slate pencil) formerly commonly used by both students and teachers in schools.
  "He wrote all down one side of the slate and all up the other, and then remarked--"As there's no time to finish that, The time has come to have our chat.""
• (countable) A roofing-tile made of slate.
  "In 1765 only 80 men were employed, and the annual output of slates did not exceed 1,000 tons, and large-scale quarrying was not begun by Lord Penrhyn until 1782."

verb

• (transitive) To cover with slate.
  "The old church ledgers show that the roof was slated in 1775."
• (transitive, chiefly British) To criticise harshly.
  "The play was slated by the critics."
• (transitive, chiefly US) To schedule.
  "The election was slated for November 2nd."
• (transitive, chiefly US) To anticipate or strongly expect.
  "The next version of our software is slated to be the best release ever."