slab

Everyday

1. A slab is a thick, flat piece of something hard, like stone, concrete or wood. tree →
2. A slab can be a thick, flat piece of food, such as a slab of cake or chocolate. tree →
3. In building, a slab is a flat concrete floor or base. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, paths and patios are made of paving slabs; in stories, an old slab of stone covers a secret tunnel. In maths, a slab is like a cuboid, so you can work out its area or volume. Phrases: «paving slab», «stone slab», «slab of cake».

Examples

• The path was made of grey stone slabs. tree →
• He cut a huge slab of chocolate cake. tree →
• Workers poured a concrete slab for the shed. tree →
• A heavy slab covered the old well. tree →
• Be careful: that paving slab is loose. tree →
• The butcher cut a slab of meat. tree →
• The garden has twelve slabs in three rows of four. tree →
• A heavy stone slab was turned and then lifted. tree →

Note

Countable noun: «a slab, slabs». A slab is thick and flat; a «sheet» is thin and flat. In maths, a path of slabs in rows and columns is an array: rows × columns = number of slabs.

In Jewish tradition

Interpretation: Ezekiel mentions slabs used for preparing the flesh of the offerings in his vision of the future Temple. Tradition sees this vision as a picture of a restored Temple. In the primary lessons: In everyday life, paths and patios are made of paving slabs; in stories, an old slab of stone covers a secret tunnel. In maths, a slab is like a cuboid, so you can work out its area or volume. Phrases: «paving slab», «stone slab», «slab of cake».

Examples

• And the slabs, a handbreadth long, were fastened within round about; and upon the tables was to be the flesh of the offering. (Prophets EZK.40.43, JPS 1917) tree →

Note

Countable noun: «a slab, slabs». A slab is thick and flat; a «sheet» is thin and flat. In maths, a path of slabs in rows and columns is an array: rows × columns = number of slabs.