slate

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

a clean slate

a record showing no marks of discredit, dishonor, etc.

slate (slāt)

transitive verb slat′ed, slat′·ing

Etymology: prob. < ON sleita, strife (akin to OE slætan, to bait, torment)

modif.

dark, dark gray, slate gray; see gray 1.

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.

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