Slats: meaning, definitions and examples

Used to describe thin, narrow strips of material, often wood or metal, that are arranged side by side.

• The slats of the window blinds were broken.
• He laid down slats for the foundation of the fence.

Describes a long, flat piece of timber, thicker than a slat, often used in flooring, construction, or shipbuilding.

• They walked across the old wooden plank bridge.
• Each plank for the deck was carefully measured and cut.

Refers to a long, rigid piece of solid material, usually metal or wood, and can also be a place where drinks are served.

• She placed a bar across the door for extra security.
• We met at the bar downtown last Friday.

Typically used in construction to refer to a long, sturdy piece of wood or metal that supports weight, often part of a building structure.

• The ceiling beam was exposed to give a rustic feel to the room.
• Workers installed a steel beam to reinforce the wall.

Used mainly in aviation, slats are movable control surfaces on the leading edge of an aircraft's wing. They are deployed to increase lift at lower speeds, particularly during takeoff and landing.

• The pilot extended the slats to prepare for landing.
• Deploying the slats can help improve the aircraft's aerodynamic performance at low speeds.

Flaps are hinged surfaces on the trailing edge of the wings, used to increase the lift or drag of an aircraft. They are typically used during takeoff and landing to allow the aircraft to fly at lower speeds.

• The pilot extended the flaps to prepare for landing.
• Lowering the flaps provided additional lift during takeoff.

An aileron is a hinged flight control surface on the trailing edge of the wing, used mainly to control the aircraft's roll and maintain level flight.

• The pilot used the aileron to make a sharp right turn.
• Adjusting the aileron helped stabilize the aircraft during turbulence.

Spoilers are devices that can be deployed on the wing of an aircraft to decrease lift and increase drag. They are used during descent and landing to help slow down the aircraft.

• The pilot deployed the spoilers to reduce the speed of the aircraft.
• Spoilers are essential for reducing lift and aiding in the aircraft's descent.