slat

slat — noun

1. a slender, rectangular strip of rigid material — timber, synthetic sheets, or sh

1.nounB2
Definition

a slender, rectangular strip of rigid material — timber, synthetic sheets, or sheet-metal, for instance — laid in parallel rows to form a continuous flat surface, such as the ones found in venetian blinds, fencing, or bed slat bases.

Example

Hiro adjusted the slats of the window blinds to let in more morning light.

collocation: slats + of + blinds / window blinds

One of the wooden slats on the garden bench had cracked after years of rain.

material: wooden / metal / plastic slats

Common collocations
  • wooden slats
  • metal slats
  • plastic slats
  • adjust the slats
  • slats of a blind
  • slats of a fence
  • bed slats
  • window slats
Synonyms
  • strip

    more general; a strip can be short or flexible, while a slat is specifically long, flat, and rigid

  • lath

    very similar in shape but technically refers to strips used in plastering or roofing; much less common today

  • plank

    wider and thicker; a plank is heavy, a slat is narrow and light

  • batten

    a strip of wood used for securing or reinforcing, not typically part of a set forming a surface

Usage Note

Often used in the plural (slats) when referring to an assembled set, such as in blinds, fences, or bed bases. The singular is used when talking about one individual strip.

2. a movable panel attached to the front edge of an aircraft's wing that extends or

2.nounC1
Definition

a movable panel attached to the front edge of an aircraft's wing that extends or retracts to change the airflow, giving the pilot more control during takeoff and landing at slower speeds.

Example

The pilot extended the slats before the final approach to reduce the aircraft's stall speed.

active: pilot extends / retracts the slats

During pre-flight inspection, Wren noticed a small dent on the left-wing slat.

pre-flight inspection of slats

Common collocations
  • extend the slats
  • retract the slats
  • leading-edge slat
  • slat deployment
  • left-wing slat
  • slats and flaps
Synonyms
  • leading-edge slat

    the full technical term; 'slat' is the shortened form used in aviation contexts

  • flap

    often confused with slats, but flaps are on the trailing edge and deploy differently

Usage Note

An aeronautical term. Slats are distinct from flaps: slats are on the leading (front) edge of the wing, while flaps are on the trailing (back) edge. Beginners often confuse the two.

Common Mistakes

The slats on the back of the wing help with landing.
The slats are on the front (leading) edge, while flaps are on the back (trailing) edge.
slats and flaps serve different aerodynamic roles and are positioned on opposite edges of the wing.

slat — verb

Word family

  • slatted
    adjectiveC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

All four words describe long, narrow pieces of material, but they differ in use and thickness. A slat is typically part of an assembled surface — you see slats in blinds, fences, and bed frames, arranged in parallel to form a flat plane. A strip is the most general term: any long, narrow piece of any material, whether or not it is part of a set (e.g., a strip of fabric, a strip of land). A lath is historically a thin strip of wood used as a backing for plaster or roofing tiles — its use is now mostly historical or trade-specific. A batten is a strip of wood or metal used to secure, reinforce, or seal a joint — it is not typically part of a continuous surface like slats are. In short: slats form a surface, strips are generic, laths are obsolete building materials, and battens are fasteners.

slat ↗striplathbatten

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • wooden slats
  • metal slats
  • adjust the slats
  • extend the slats
  • retract the slats
  • slatted bench
  • slatted door
  • leading-edge slat

Prepositions

  • slats of [a blind/a fence/a bed]
  • slatted with [wood/metal]

Etymology

Vulgar LatinOld FrenchMiddle EnglishEnglish

The word 'slat' comes from Old French 'esclet' (a splinter or split piece), which traces back to Vulgar Latin 'exlitta', meaning 'split off'. The root is connected to the idea of wood being split into thin, flat strips — exactly what a slat is. The aviation sense emerged in the early 20th century as aircraft designers adopted the familiar word for a new mechanical part on wings.