Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English - slate

~1 n 1 »ROCK« a dark grey rock that can easily be split into flat thin pieces  (a slate mine) 2 »ON A ROOF« one of the small pieces of slate or similar material used for covering roofs  (There were several slates missing from the roof.) 3 slate blue/grey a dark grey or blue colour 4 »POLITICS« especially AmE a list of people that voters can choose in an election or that are being considered for an important job 5 put sth on the slate BrE old-fashioned to arrange to pay for something later, especially food or drink  (Two whiskies, and could you put them on the slate!) 6 »FOR WRITING ON« a small board in a wooden frame used for writing on in schools in former times  (- see also a clean slate clean1 (10), wipe the slate clean wipe1 (6)) ~2 v 1 BrE informal to criticize a book, film etc severely, especially in a newspaper  (Donkin's most recent novel has been slated by the critics.) 2 be slated especially AmE a) to be expected to succeed in getting a particular position or job  (be slated to be/do sth)  (Rogers is slated to be the Democratic candidate.) b) to be expected or planned to happen at a time in the future  (be slated for)  (The office buildings are slated for demolition next June.) - slated adj