Slat Definition, Usage & Real-Life Examples

Meaning 1：thin flat strip (slat)

slat 🔊

/slæt/

A thin, flat piece of wood or metal, often one of several arranged close together in something like a blind or a bed.

Slat definition illustrated with close-up of wooden venetian blind slats

thin flat strip 🔊

➕

/θɪn flæt strɪp/

A narrow, flat piece of material, often wood or metal, used in series for items like window blinds or bed frames.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Middle English 'slat', likely related to flat, thin pieces of material.

💡 Mnemonic

Think SLAT like SLATE, both are flat, thin, and straight.

📖 Example

The morning sun filtered into the room through the slats of the wooden blinds. 🔊 Morning sunlight entered the room by passing between the thin pieces of the wooden window coverings.

🔗 Collocations

wooden slat – a slat made of wood

slat blind – a window blind composed of horizontal slats

bed slat – a slat used to support a mattress in a bed frame

🔄 Synonyms

strip (n.) – a long, narrow piece of material

lath (n.) – a thin, flat strip of wood used in construction

plank (n.) – a long, flat piece of timber, typically thicker than a slat

🌱 Derivatives

slatted (adj.) – fitted or constructed with slats

📖 Cultural Story

Slats are key in venetian blinds for adjustable light and in bed frames for ventilation, highlighting their role in practical furniture design.