slater
- 01 C2 Proficiency
a person whose job is to put slate tiles on the roofs of buildings.
a tradesperson who specialises in laying slate tiles on roofs.
Simple“The slater spent the whole afternoon repairing the old church roof.”
In context“The master slater carefully selected each piece of stone to ensure the historic cottage remained watertight for another century.”
Synonymsroofer - 02 C2 Proficiency
a small, grey creature with a hard shell that lives in damp places like under rocks.
a terrestrial isopod crustacean, commonly known as a woodlouse.
Simple“When I lifted the old flower pot, a few slaters scurried away into the dirt.”
In context“The children spent the morning exploring the garden, fascinated by the slaters they found hiding beneath the damp logs.”
Teacher's tipThis term is common in Scotland, Australia, and New Zealand; speakers in the US or Southern England usually say 'woodlouse' or 'pill bug'.
Synonymswoodlousepill bugroly poly - 03 C2 Proficiency
someone who writes very mean or angry reviews about a book, film, or play.
a person who severely criticises or denigrates a work or individual.
Simple“The director was known as a slater who never had a kind word for new actors.”
In context“The lead actor was devastated by the review, describing the journalist as a notorious slater who enjoyed destroying reputations.”