slate¹ Definition
slate (slāt)
noun
- a hard, fine-grained, metamorphic rock, typically formed from shale, that cleaves naturally into thin, smooth-surfaced layers
- a thin piece of slate or slatelike material, esp. one used as a roofing tile or as a tablet for writing on with chalk
- the bluish-gray color of most slate
- ☆ a list of candidates proposed for nomination or election
Etymology: ME sclate < OFr esclate, fem. of esclat: see slat
transitive verb slat′ed, slat′·ing
- to cover with slate
- ☆ to put on a list or designate, as for candidacy, appointment, engagement, etc.; choose or schedule
slate¹ Idioms
a clean slate
a record showing no marks of discredit, dishonor, etc.
slate² Definition
slate (slāt)
transitive verb slat′ed, slat′·ing
- to punish severely, as by thrashing
- to scold or criticize harshly
Etymology: prob. < ON sleita, strife (akin to OE slætan, to bait, torment)
slate Synonyms
slate Usage Examples
Object
roof: Roof: slated roofs, with plain ridge tiles which may be stone or concrete; certainly the latter on the porch.
Converse of object
- wipe: The new headteacher thought wisely to wipe the slate clean.
- interlock: This reversible section may be used either with interlocking slates, or natural and man-made double lap slates.
- quarry: The quarried slate was taken to Wadebridge and Padstow by barge and then transported further afield or used locally.
Adjective modifier
- blank: The idea of identical babies with blank slates for minds had been under attack for some time.
- clean: I'm running out of clean slates to give her.
- Welsh: The WC blocks are clad in smooth Welsh slate, with the shower cubicles marked out in bright blue.
- crushed: Here you see the new footpath made of crushed slate.
- broken: The stuff in which the gold occurred at Mount Brown was composed of broken slate with a few angular fragments of quartz.
- gray: LI Roofing materials ranged through dark brown thatch, red clay pantiles, with a black glazed variant and blue gray Welsh slates.
Modifies a noun
- roof: Leading up to the present church with its slate roof is a row of horse chestnut trees.
- quarry: The Wynne slate quarry opened in 1750 followed by a larger concern, the Cambrian Slate Company, which was formed in 1854.
- hearth: Open fireplace with fitted villager log burning stove on a slate hearth.
- rubble: Granite and slate rubble stone with Welsh slate roof and brick end stacks.
- slab: Extracts from the Laws are carved on slate slabs in the Center garden.
- chipping: Finish off with a mulch of fine gravel, frosted glass or slate chippings.
Noun used with modifier
- roofing: Several slate quarries are still worked, tho today largely for cut stone for head offices and overseas palaces rather than domestic roofing slate.
- lap: Resin slate tolerances Single lap resin slate, made in a press, has a smaller manufacturing tolerance than either clay or concrete.
- resin: Resin slates not made in a press can often be more variable than clay tiles due to the wet nature of the process.
Preposition: with
tile: Roofs: slates with yellow ceramic toothed ridge tiles.
Browse dictionary entries near slate
- ‹ slat
- ‹ slashing
- ‹ slash pocket
- ‹ slash pine
- ‹ slash-and-burn
- ‹ slash
- ‹ slapstick
- ‹ slapjack
- ‹ slapdash
- ‹ slap-up
- slater ›
- slather ›
- slating ›
- slattern ›
- slatternly ›
- slatting ›
- slaty ›
- slaughter ›
- slaughterhouse ›
- slaughterous ›

