Main Entry:: ¹slate
Pronunciation:: \ˈslāt\
Function:: noun
Etymology:: Middle English sclate, slate, from Anglo-French *esclat, from esclater to splinter, break off, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German zesleizzen, slīzan to tear apart — more at slit
Date:: 14th century

1: a piece of construction material (as laminated rock) prepared as a shingle for roofing and siding2: a dense fine-grained metamorphic rock produced by the compression of various sediments (as clay or shale) so as to develop a characteristic cleavage3: a tablet (as of slate) used for writing on4 a: a written or unwritten record (as of deeds) <started with a clean slate> b: a list of candidates for nomination or election5 a: a dark purplish gray b: any of various grays similar in color to common roofing slates

— slate adjective

— slate·like

\-ˌlīk\ adjective

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