Definify.com
Webster 1913 Edition
Slate
Slate
(slāt)
, Noun.
1.
(Min.)
An argillaceous rock which readily splits into thin plates; argillite; argillaceous schist.
2.
Any rock or stone having a slaty structure.
3.
A prepared piece of such stone.
Especially: (a)
A thin, flat piece, for roofing or covering houses, etc.
(b)
A tablet for writing upon.
4.
An artificial material, resembling slate, and used for the above purposes.
5.
A thin plate of any material; a flake.
[Obs.]
6.
(Politics)
A list of candidates, prepared for nomination or for election; a list of candidates, or a programme of action, devised beforehand.
[Cant, U.S.]
Bartlett.
Adhesive slate
(Min.)
, a kind of slate of a greenish gray color, which absorbs water rapidly, and adheres to the tongue; whence the name.
– Aluminous slate
, or
Alum slate
(Min.)
, a kind of slate containing sulphate of alumina, – used in the manufacture of alum.
– Bituminous slate
(Min.)
, a soft species of sectile clay slate, impregnated with bitumen.
– Hornblende slate
(Min.)
, a slaty rock, consisting essentially of hornblende and feldspar, useful for flagging on account of its toughness.
– Slate ax
or Slate axe
a mattock with an ax end, used in shaping slates for roofs, and making holes in them for the nails.
– Slate clay
(Geol.)
, an indurated clay, forming one of the alternating beds of the coal measures, consisting of an infusible compound of alumina and silica, and often used for making fire bricks.
Tomlinson.
– Slate globe
, a globe the surface of which is made of an artificial slatelike material.
– Slate pencil
, a pencil of slate, or of soapstone, used for writing on a slate.
– Slate rocks
(Min.)
, rocks which split into thin laminae, not necessarily parallel to the stratification; foliated rocks.
– Slate spar
(Min.)
, a variety of calcite of silvery white luster and of a slaty structure.
– Transparent slate
, a plate of translucent material, as ground glass, upon which a copy of a picture, placed beneath it, can be made by tracing.
Slate
,Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Slated
; p. pr. & vb. n.
Slating
.] 1.
To cover with slate, or with a substance resembling slate;
as, to
slate
a roof; to slate
a globe.2.
To register (as on a slate and subject to revision), for an appointment.
[Polit. Cant]
Slate
,Verb.
T.
[Cf. AS.
slǣting
a privilege of hunting.] To set a dog upon; to bait; to slat. See 2d
Slat
, 3. [Prov. Eng. & Scot.]
[Written also
slete
.] Ray.
Webster 1828 Edition
Slate
SLATE
, n.1.
An argillaceous stone which readily splits into plates; argillite; argillaceous shist.2.
A piece of smooth argillaceous stone, used for covering buildings.3.
A piece of smooth stone of the above species, used for writing on.