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)
The Times Literary Supplement (London)3
: a hard plastic holder for a collectible coin and an identifying insert
slabbed; slabbing
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
Examples of slab in a Sentence
Noun
a thick slab of homemade bread
Recent Examples on the WebPriya Krishna, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The new standards said that children kept in seclusion inside Tennessee’s juvenile detention centers could be locked into cells that are 50 square feet — about the size of a U-Haul cargo van — usually with a concrete slab for a bed and a metal toilet affixed to the wall.
—Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 16 Nov. 2023
This includes the sundeck, which was extended by 108 square feet, a second pool, pop-up tables for alfresco dining, and an outdoor galley with a bar made from the largest slab of backlit black agate found on any yacht.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2023
The concrete slabs that were cut out of the river’s bed in order to lay the pipe have been trimmed into triangles and arranged in architectonic stacks in one room of the studio.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023
Or, for an even more fitting base, seek out a long, thin loaf of Cuban bread to slice into small ½-inch thick slabs.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Nov. 2023
The Ingels plan called for gates that would swing down from the elevated trestle of the FDR, an idea of almost comical impracticability (among other things, the FDR can barely support its traffic load these days, let alone many more dangling tons of steel slabs).
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2023
The company near Los Angeles converts semi-finished steel slabs into sheet steel.
—WSJ, 20 Oct. 2023
Over the weekend, concrete slabs were placed at the Egyptian side of the crossing, blocking all gates, a Palestinian border official told CNN Saturday.
—Mohammed Abdelbary, CNN, 17 Oct. 2023
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
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
See More
Noun
In a spacious Houston cafeteria awash in primary colors, diners crowded around big tables and dug into mashed potatoes splashed with a slick gravy, glossy green beans and sticky slabs of pecan pie.
—Priya Krishna, New York Times, 20 Nov. 2023
The new standards said that children kept in seclusion inside Tennessee’s juvenile detention centers could be locked into cells that are 50 square feet — about the size of a U-Haul cargo van — usually with a concrete slab for a bed and a metal toilet affixed to the wall.
—Paige Pfleger, ProPublica, 16 Nov. 2023
This includes the sundeck, which was extended by 108 square feet, a second pool, pop-up tables for alfresco dining, and an outdoor galley with a bar made from the largest slab of backlit black agate found on any yacht.
—Julia Zaltzman, Robb Report, 3 Nov. 2023
The concrete slabs that were cut out of the river’s bed in order to lay the pipe have been trimmed into triangles and arranged in architectonic stacks in one room of the studio.
—Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023
Or, for an even more fitting base, seek out a long, thin loaf of Cuban bread to slice into small ½-inch thick slabs.
—Karla Walsh, Better Homes & Gardens, 14 Nov. 2023
The Ingels plan called for gates that would swing down from the elevated trestle of the FDR, an idea of almost comical impracticability (among other things, the FDR can barely support its traffic load these days, let alone many more dangling tons of steel slabs).
—Christopher Bonanos, Curbed, 30 Oct. 2023
The company near Los Angeles converts semi-finished steel slabs into sheet steel.
—WSJ, 20 Oct. 2023
Over the weekend, concrete slabs were placed at the Egyptian side of the crossing, blocking all gates, a Palestinian border official told CNN Saturday.
—Mohammed Abdelbary, CNN, 17 Oct. 2023
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
See More
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
Phrases Containing slab
Dictionary Entries Near slab
Cite this Entry
“Slab.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slab. Accessed 6 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
slab
nounˈslab
: a thick flat piece or slice (as of stone, wood, or bread)
More from Merriam-Webster on slab
Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for slab
Nglish: Translation of slab for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of slab for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share