slat

1 of 3

verb (1)

slatted; slatting

transitive verb

1
2
: to hurl or throw smartly

slat

2 of 3

noun

1
: a thin narrow flat strip especially of wood or metal
2
slats plural, slang : ribs
3
: an auxiliary airfoil at the leading edge of the wing of an airplane
slat adjective
slatted adjective

slat

3 of 3

verb (2)

slatted; slatting

transitive verb

: to make or equip with slats

Examples of slat in a Sentence

Noun the slats of a venetian blind The fence has two broken slats.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The original dual-sided fireplace wall shared by the living room and dining area is clad in reclaimed Alder slatting. Jeastman, oregonlive, 13 Sep. 2023 The sleds have slatted wooden beds covered with reindeer skins, with a ledge for the driver. Taymour Soomro Scott Conarroe, New York Times, 10 May 2023 Keep in mind that the way in which the roof is slatted will provide more or less shade. Alyssa Gautieri, Good Housekeeping, 28 Mar. 2023
Noun
Additional slats in the planter promote air circulation. Janae McKenzie, House Beautiful, 5 Sep. 2023 The furniture makers cut slats of wood to which branches were still attached, so the forestlike tangle is integral to the desks. Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 14 July 2023 Reuse the slats to create a multi-purpose storage space like Ich Designer. Nathalie Kirby, House Beautiful, 21 Apr. 2023 With an aluminum slat top and steel frame, this table provides the sturdiness and support that is needed when standing on uneven surfaces. Jenna Clark, Southern Living, 14 Aug. 2023 But the thing is, modern cribs are designed with tighter slats to avoid that very issue. Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 5 July 2023 Plus, each wide wood slat is spaced far enough apart to allow for ideal air flow and fast drying. Rachel Simon, Better Homes & Gardens, 3 Mar. 2023 The trio persisted and made it to the final leg of the hike: a 400-foot climb with nothing but a pair of cables and wooden slats. Jeremy Childs, Los Angeles Times, 1 Aug. 2023 For wider doorways, the gate width can extend up to 42 inches; the door itself doesn’t widen, but the metal gate slats on the side extend. Maya Polton, Parents, 14 July 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'slat.' 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

Verb (1)

perhaps of Scandinavian origin; akin to Old Norse sletta to throw carelessly

Noun

Middle English sclate, slate slate

First Known Use

Verb (1)

circa 1587, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

1764, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb (2)

1886, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of slat was circa 1587

Dictionary Entries Near slat

Cite this Entry

“Slat.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/slat. Accessed 25 Sep. 2023.

Kids Definition

slat

noun
ˈslat
: a thin narrow flat strip of wood, plastic, or metal
the slats of a venetian blind
slatted
ˈslat-əd
adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on slat

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!