—n.
1 a fine-grained grey, green, or bluish-purple metamorphic rock easily split into flat smooth plates.
2 a piece of such a plate used as roofing-material.
3 a piece of such a plate used for writing on, usu. framed in wood.
4 the colour of slate.
5 US a list of nominees for office etc.
—v.tr.
1 cover with slates esp. as roofing.
2 Brit. colloq. criticize severely; scold.
3 US make arrangements for (an event etc.).
4 US propose or nominate for office etc.
—adj. made of slate.
Phrases and idioms:
on the slate Brit. recorded as a debt to be paid. slate-blue (or -black) a shade of blue (or black) occurring in slate. slate-colour a dark bluish or greenish grey. slate-coloured of this colour. slate-grey a shade of grey occurring in slate. slate-pencil a small rod of soft slate used for writing on slate. wipe the slate clean forgive or cancel the record of past offences.
Derivatives:
slating n. slaty adj.
Etymology: ME s(c)late f. OF esclate, fem. form of esclat SLAT
Useful english dictionary. 2012.