slab

noun

\ˈslab

Definition of slab

(Entry 1 of 3)

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 material — The Times Literary Supplement (London)

3 : a hard plastic holder for a collectible coin and an identifying insert

slab

verb

slabbed; slabbing

Definition of slab (Entry 2 of 3)

transitive verb

1a : 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

adjective

Definition of slab (Entry 3 of 3)

dialectal, chiefly England

: thick, viscous

Other Words from slab More Example Sentences Learn More about slab

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Examples of slab in a Sentence

Noun

a thick slab of homemade bread

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Soon a waiter delivers what can only be described as wooden slabs of deconstructed avocado toast. — Abby Aguirre, Vogue, "When Priyanka Met Nick: A Love Story," 29 Nov. 2018 Not more than 200 yards from the soccer fields, the short forest opens up, and the scrubby ground is replaced by massive slabs of concrete. — Nate Berg, Curbed, "Can engineering save Louisiana’s coastline?," 7 Nov. 2018 Mexico Beach’s older houses tended to be the ones that Michael totally destroyed, while places built to current code seemed to fair better, said Rex Putnal, a city councilor whose home was blasted down to a slab. — Jennifer Levitz, WSJ, "After Hurricane Michael, Residents Determined to Rebuild Shattered City," 16 Oct. 2018 In mobile phone videos, buildings are seen sliding like pucks across a slab of ice. — Andi Jatmiko, The Seattle Times, "Indonesia expert warned of quake, gov’t mapped risk areas," 9 Oct. 2018 The food arrived on heaping platters: charcuterie; pickled vegetables; a big dollop of Laychee, Pennyroyal’s signature goat cheese; a slab of Boont Corners Vintage Tomme, a tangy, salty goat-and-sheep-milk cheese. — Jody Rosen, Smithsonian, "This Secret Corner of California Is a Paradise for Lovers of Great Food and Top-Notch Wines," 14 June 2018 The pigments, which come from algae and plankton, imbue his slabs and chunks of wood with an otherworldly light best viewed in the dark. — Cate Mcquaid, BostonGlobe.com, "Seeing the heavens in a cut of wood," 11 July 2018 Its roof, a flat slab of concrete covered in grass, sits atop a series of pillars, while the interior of the home is enclosed in floor-to-ceiling windows. — Liz Stinson, Curbed, "Stunning green-roofed home blends into the landscape," 1 June 2018 Rescue workers who raced to the scene could hear people moaning and crying, pinned beneath concrete slabs, impaled with steel girders, suffocating from dust. — Jill Lepore, The New Yorker, "The Rise of the Victims’-Rights Movement," 14 May 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

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, "US allies brace for trade war as tariff negotiations stall," 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, "U.S. Allies Brace for Trade War as Tariff Negotiations Stall," 29 Apr. 2018 Wipers can be found in the same areas trolling crankbaits, slabbing, or using live bait. — Tyler Mahoney, kansascity, "Fishing report: Looking for hot spots? Here's where the fish are biting | The Kansas City Star," 14 Mar. 2018 Try trolling crankbaits, slabbing, or using live bait. — Tyler Mahoney, kansascity, "Fishing report: Prospects should improve if the winds stay calm | The Kansas City Star," 7 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'slab.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.