slab

/slæb/
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slab

A worker places a concrete slab for a new garden path.

Definition

Noun: 1. A thick, flat, often rectangular piece of a solid material: A slab is a broad, flat, and usually thick piece of stone, concrete, wood, or other hard substance. 2. A large, thick slice or portion of something: It can also refer to a thick piece of food or other soft material.

Usage

The word "slab" is used to describe a solid, heavy, and typically flat piece of something. It emphasizes thickness and often a lack of refinement or a rough-hewn quality. It is commonly used in construction, cooking, and manufacturing contexts.

Examples
  • They placed a concrete slab as the foundation for the house.
  • The sculptor started with a massive slab of marble.
  • He cut a thick slab of bread from the loaf.
  • The countertop is made from a single slab of granite.
  • The body was laid on a cold stone slab in the morgue.
Advanced Usage
  • "slab serif": In typography, a type of serif font where the serifs are thick, block-like, and often uniform in weight with the main strokes of the letters.
  • "slab on grade": A construction term for a concrete floor that is placed directly on the ground without a basement or crawl space beneath it.
Variants and Related Words
  • Slabbed (adj.): Describes something that has been formed into or covered with slabs.
    • The path was slabbed with limestone.
  • Slab-like (adj.): Resembling a slab in appearance; thick and flat.
    • The building had a slab-like appearance.
Synonyms
  • Plaque: A flat, thin piece of metal or stone, often inscribed.
  • Tablet: A flat slab, especially one used for an inscription.
  • Slate: A fine-grained rock that splits into thin, flat pieces.
  • Hunk: A large piece of something, but less formal and not necessarily flat.
  • Chunk: A thick, solid piece of something.
Related Phrases
  • A slab of butter: A thick portion of butter, often pre-cut and wrapped.
  • Paving slab: A flat stone or concrete block used for making a paved surface.
Notes on Meaning

The core meaning of "slab" centers on a solid, flat, and thick piece. While it often implies a rectangular shape, this is not a strict requirement. The word can carry connotations of heaviness, durability (as in construction materials), or substantial portion size (as in food).

slab

A worker places a concrete slab for a new garden path.

Noun
  1. block consisting of a thick piece of something