slab
B2Neutral to informal; technical in construction/stonework.
Definition
Meaning
A thick, flat piece of solid material, typically stone, concrete, or wood.
A large, thick, flat piece of something; also used metaphorically for a large, heavy, or unwieldy object or amount (e.g., a slab of meat, a slab of text).
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a concrete noun denoting a solid, often heavy, flat object. Can imply a degree of coarseness or lack of refinement. The metaphorical use often carries a negative connotation of something bulky or difficult to manage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in core meaning. Both use 'paving slab' (UK) and 'paving stone/paver' (US) interchangeably, though 'slab' is common in both.
Connotations
Similar connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK English in construction contexts (e.g., 'concrete slab', 'paving slab').
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[slab] of [material][adjective] [slab]lay/pour/cut a [slab]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A slab on the tab (informal: a large bar bill)”
- “Slab city (nickname for a makeshift community)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare, except in construction/stone industry sales (e.g., 'We supply granite slabs for countertops').
Academic
Rare, except in archaeology/geology/construction engineering (e.g., 'The tomb was covered by a single limestone slab').
Everyday
Common in DIY, gardening, and cooking contexts (e.g., 'We need new paving slabs for the patio', 'Cut me a slab of that cake').
Technical
Standard in construction, masonry, and stoneworking (e.g., 'The foundation is a reinforced concrete slab').
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The mason will slab the pathway tomorrow.
- They decided to slab over the old patio.
American English
- The contractor will slab the foundation next week.
- We need to slab this area before winter.
adverb
British English
- The stone fell slab down onto the ground. (rare/archaic)
American English
- The concrete was poured slab smooth. (rare/technical)
adjective
British English
- It's a slab foundation, not a crawl space.
- They prefer a slab-style gravestone.
American English
- The house has a slab-on-grade construction.
- He bought a slab door for the basement.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The floor is a big stone slab.
- The table is made from a wood slab.
- We bought a marble slab for the kitchen counter.
- The path is made of concrete slabs.
- The archaeologists uncovered a burial slab with ancient inscriptions.
- He was carrying a heavy slab of granite for the sculpture.
- The new legislation was a monolithic slab of regulations that overwhelmed small businesses.
- The poet described the moon as a pale slab of alabaster in the night sky.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SLAB of concrete SLAMMING down – both words start with 'SLA-' and imply something flat and heavy.
Conceptual Metaphor
BULK IS A SLAB (e.g., 'a slab of legislation', 'a slab of debt').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'плита' for a domestic cooking stove; that is 'cooker' or 'stove'. 'Slab' is 'плита' only for stone/concrete. 'Слэб' is a direct borrowing in climbing/stone contexts.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'slab' for thin materials like paper or fabric (use 'sheet'). Confusing 'slab' with 'slat' (a thin strip).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'slab' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, while most common for stone/concrete, it can be used for any solid material cut into a thick, flat piece (e.g., slab of wood, metal, cheese, chocolate).
A slab is typically much thicker, heavier, and larger than a tile. Tiles are thin, often uniform units for covering surfaces, while slabs are structural or substantial pieces.
Yes, though less common. It means to cover or provide with slabs, or in construction, to lay a concrete slab (e.g., 'to slab a patio').
It is neutral. It is the standard technical term in construction/masonry and a common, neutral word in everyday contexts like DIY or cooking.