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Webster 1913 Edition


Slate

Slate

(slāt)
,
Noun.
[OE.
slat
,
sclat
, OF.
esclat
a shiver, splinter, F.
éclat
, fr. OF.
esclater
to shiver, to chip, F.
éclater
, fr. OHG.
sleizen
to tear, slit, split, fr.
slīzan
to slit, G.
schleissen
. See
Slit
,
Verb.
T.
, and cf.
Eclat
.]
1.
(Min.)
An argillaceous rock which readily splits into thin plates; argillite; argillaceous schist.
2.
Any rock or stone having a slaty structure.
3.
A prepared piece of such stone.
Especially:
(a)
A thin, flat piece, for roofing or covering houses, etc.
(b)
A tablet for writing upon.
4.
An artificial material, resembling slate, and used for the above purposes.
5.
A thin plate of any material; a flake.
[Obs.]
6.
(Politics)
A list of candidates, prepared for nomination or for election; a list of candidates, or a programme of action, devised beforehand.
[Cant, U.S.]
Bartlett.
Adhesive slate
(Min.)
,
a kind of slate of a greenish gray color, which absorbs water rapidly, and adheres to the tongue; whence the name.
Aluminous slate
, or
Alum slate
(Min.)
,
a kind of slate containing sulphate of alumina, – used in the manufacture of alum.
Bituminous slate
(Min.)
,
a soft species of sectile clay slate, impregnated with bitumen.
Hornblende slate
(Min.)
,
a slaty rock, consisting essentially of hornblende and feldspar, useful for flagging on account of its toughness.
Slate ax
or
Slate axe
,
a mattock with an ax end, used in shaping slates for roofs, and making holes in them for the nails.
Slate clay
(Geol.)
,
an indurated clay, forming one of the alternating beds of the coal measures, consisting of an infusible compound of alumina and silica, and often used for making fire bricks.
Tomlinson.
Slate globe
,
a globe the surface of which is made of an artificial slatelike material.
Slate pencil
,
a pencil of slate, or of soapstone, used for writing on a slate.
Slate rocks
(Min.)
,
rocks which split into thin laminae, not necessarily parallel to the stratification; foliated rocks.
Slate spar
(Min.)
,
a variety of calcite of silvery white luster and of a slaty structure.
Transparent slate
,
a plate of translucent material, as ground glass, upon which a copy of a picture, placed beneath it, can be made by tracing.

Slate

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Slated
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Slating
.]
1.
To cover with slate, or with a substance resembling slate;
as, to
slate
a roof; to
slate
a globe.
2.
To register (as on a slate and subject to revision), for an appointment.
[Polit. Cant]

Slate

,
Verb.
T.
[Cf. AS.
slǣting
a privilege of hunting.]
To set a dog upon; to bait; to slat. See 2d
Slat
, 3.
[Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
[Written also
slete
.]
Ray.

Webster 1828 Edition


Slate

SLATE

, n.
1.
An argillaceous stone which readily splits into plates; argillite; argillaceous shist.
2.
A piece of smooth argillaceous stone, used for covering buildings.
3.
A piece of smooth stone of the above species, used for writing on.

SLATE

, v.I. To cover with slate or plates of stone; as, to slate a roof. [It does not signify to tile.]

Definition 2024


slate

slate

English

Adjective

slate (not comparable)

  1. Having the bluish-grey/gray colour of slate.

Hyponyms

Derived terms

Derived terms

  • slate pencil
  • slate-coloured junco

Translations

Noun

slate (plural slates)

  1. (uncountable, geology) A fine-grained homogeneous sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash which has been metamorphosed so that it cleaves easily into thin layers.
  2. (uncountable) The bluish-grey colour of most slate.
    slate colour:    
  3. (countable) A sheet of slate for writing on with chalk or with a thin rod of slate (a slate pencil) formerly commonly used by younger children for writing practice in schools.
  4. (countable) A roofing-tile made of slate.
  5. (countable) A record of money owed.
    Put it on my slate – I’ll pay you next week.
  6. (countable, chiefly US) A list of affiliated candidates for an election.
    Roy Disney led the alternative slate of directors for the stockholder vote.
  7. An artificial material resembling slate and used for the same purposes.
  8. A thin plate of any material; a flake.

Synonyms

Derived terms

See also

Translations

Verb

slate (third-person singular simple present slates, present participle slating, simple past and past participle slated)

  1. To cover with slate.
    The old church ledgers show that the roof was slated in 1775.
  2. (chiefly Britain) To criticise harshly.
    The play was slated by the critics.
  3. (chiefly US) To schedule.
    The election was slated for November 2nd.
  4. (chiefly US) To destine or strongly expect.
    The next version of our software is slated to be the best release ever.
  5. To punish severely.
    The boy was slated by his own mom for disobeying her.

Translations

Anagrams