slab

1 of 3

noun

1
: a thick plate or slice (as of stone, wood, or bread): such as
a
: the outside piece cut from a log in squaring it
b
: concrete pavement (as of a road)
specifically : a strip of concrete pavement laid as a single unjointed piece
c(1)
: a flat rectangular architectural element that is usually formed of a single piece or mass
a concrete foundation slab
(2)
: a rectangular building having little width with respect to its length and usually height
2
: something that resembles a slab (as in size, shape, or density)
backed up by a solid slab of reference materialThe Times Literary Supplement (London)
3
: a hard plastic holder for a collectible coin and an identifying insert
slablike adjective

slab

2 of 3

verb

slabbed; slabbing

transitive verb

1
a
: to remove an outer slab from
slab a log
b
: to divide or form into slabs
2
: to cover or support (something, such as a roadbed or roof) with slabs
3
: to put on thickly

slab

3 of 3

adjective

dialectal, chiefly England

Examples of slab in a Sentence

Noun a thick slab of homemade bread
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Things To Do Situated where the churning New River cuts a groove of canyon 1,500 feet deep into slabs of shale and Nuttall sandstone, this is one of those rare gems that allows people to get their nature fix via a wide variety of activities. Emily Pennington, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2024 California 4 found safe after avalanche at Nevada ski resort Feb. 5, 2024 The avalanche was caused when a several-foot-deep storm slab, or crown, broke off around 10,500 to 11,000 feet in elevation. Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 Feb. 2024 The graves’ interior walls are made of brick and mortar, and they were covered with a large limestone slab, which appears to be from a quarry near the ancient town of Nicopolis ad Istrum. Sonja Anderson, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 Meanwhile, the Valley of the Whales, with its cross-bedded and creamy limestone slabs, is a cake of frozen time. Discover Magazine, 9 Feb. 2024 Peruse replaced the large pavers and slabs of cement with 3/8 Del Rio pea gravel which was contained with metal edging, creating a flat, even surface, perfect for high-foot-traffic areas. Kristin Guy, Sunset Magazine, 22 Feb. 2024 Concrete beam cited in collapse of supermarket being built ROME -- A fifth construction worker was confirmed dead Saturday after a concrete beam and slabs collapsed at a supermarket building site in the city of Florence a day earlier, Italian officials said. Giada Zampano The Associated Press, arkansasonline.com, 18 Feb. 2024 The puzzle-like bases of the signature chair and table echo that of his buildings, which are often adorned with wooden slats and slabs. Kissa Castañeda, Forbes, 17 Feb. 2024 After slabs of concrete were laid over the body and water was mixed into the fresh earth to seal the tomb, Iyas' guardian quickly prayed for the boy, alongside one gravedigger. NBC News, 13 Feb. 2024
Verb
Upgrading your vehicle doesn’t always have to mean slabbing on a fresh coat of paint. Stack Commerce, Popular Science, 1 Nov. 2023 The project includes replacing portions of aging concrete on the bridge deck, or the driving surface, as well as the approach slabs to each end of the bridge. Kristina Davis, San Diego Union-Tribune, 27 Sep. 2023 Caltrans will proactively be replacing portions of aging concrete on the bridge deck — the driving surface for cars — as well as the approach slabs to the bridge. Emily Alvarenga, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 Sep. 2023 Slabhead was slabbing his head against every ball that came within his orbit, with Tammy Abraham duly confirming to the gravitational pull of his pocket. SI.com, 12 Aug. 2019 Brazil, which primarily exports slab steel to US manufacturers, is hoping to escape by agreeing on limited quotas for more sophisticated products. Jack Ewing and Ana Swanson, BostonGlobe.com, 29 Apr. 2018 Brazil, which primarily exports slab steel to American manufacturers, is hoping to escape by agreeing on limited quotas for more sophisticated products. Jack Ewing and Ana Swanson, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2018 Wipers can be found in the same areas trolling crankbaits, slabbing, or using live bait. Tyler Mahoney, kansascity, 14 Mar. 2018 Try trolling crankbaits, slabbing, or using live bait. Tyler Mahoney, kansascity, 7 Mar. 2018
Adjective
Everything’s made in-house, from the 12 rotating ice cream flavors, including a peanut butter, bacon and banana flavor made with chopped bacon, to cupcakes, slab pies, muffins and coffee cakes. Cheryl V. Jackson, The Indianapolis Star, 14 July 2022 Somehow, the Grand Wagoneer's slab-sided body makes 22-inch wheels look tiny. Ezra Dyer, Car and Driver, 15 June 2022 As for slab phones, Motorola did not release a flagship Snapdragon 888 phone in the US last year. Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, 30 Mar. 2022 Using a slab roller that was originally designed for potters was the nemesis of several workers. Denise Brodey, Forbes, 13 Oct. 2021 Like, the uppercase T had a spike serif on the bottom and slab serifs on the top. Diana Budds, Curbed, 13 Oct. 2021 As for style, Blackband says to look at slab-panel cabinetry, which features a flat door over the cabinet box and lends a modern but classic look. Lindsey M. Roberts Special To The Washington Post, Star Tribune, 29 Apr. 2021

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slab.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English slabbe

Adjective

akin to Middle English slabben to wallow, obsolete Danish slab muck

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1703, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

1605, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slab was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near slab

Cite this Entry

“Slab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slab. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

slab

noun
ˈslab
: a thick flat piece or slice (as of stone, wood, or bread)

More from Merriam-Webster on slab

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