slate¹ /slāt/

1. A fine-grained argillaceous rock which by regional metamorphism has developed a cleavage along close-spaced planes independent of the bedding, usu a dull blue, grey, purple, or green
2. A slab of this material (or a substitute) for roofing, or for writing on with chalk
3. A preliminary list (eg of political candidates; esp N American)
4. Slate-colour

1. Of slate
2. Slate-coloured, dull bluish-grey

1. To cover with slate or slates
2. To enter on a slate
3. To clear (hide) of fine hair with a slater
4. To enter on a list
5. To note down for nomination or appointment (US)
6. To propose
7. To schedule (US)

slatˈed adjective

Covered with slates

slatˈer noun

1. A person who covers roofs with slates
2. A tool with a slate blade for removing fine hair from hides
3. A woodlouse (Scot and N Eng dialect, Aust and NZ)

slatˈiness noun

slatˈing noun

1. Covering with slates
2. A covering of slates
3. Materials for slating

slatˈy adjective

Of or like slate

slate axe noun

A slater's sax

slate club noun

An informally organized communal fund to which members contribute regularly, as insurance against hard times or savings towards eg Christmas expenses

slateˈ-coloured adjective

Dull bluish-grey

slate-greyˈ or -grayˈ adjective

Of a light slate colour

slate pencil noun

A cut or turned stick of soft slate, compressed slate powder, or pyrophyllite, for writing on slate

slateˈ-writer noun

slateˈ-writing noun

In spiritualism, the mysterious process of producing writing on a covered slate

slaty cleavage noun (geology)

Fissility like that of slate along planes independent of bedding

a clean slate see under clean

• nitrifying
• nitrile
• nitriles
• nitrite
• nitrites
• nitro
• nitro-
• nitroaniline
• nitrobacteria
• nitrobenzene
• nitrobenzenes
• nitrocellulose
• nitrocelluloses
• nitro-compound
• nitro-compounds
• nitrocotton
• nitrocottons
• nitro-derivative
• nitro-derivatives
• nitrogen
• nitrogenase
• nitrogenases
• nitrogen cycle
• nitrogen cycles
• nitrogen dioxide