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

a slate loose (informal)

A slight mental derangement

on the slate (informal)

On credit

wipe the slate clean

To allow a person to make a fresh start in a job, relationship, etc by ignoring past mistakes, crimes, etc