[1] : The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

slate \slate\ sl=at, n. oe. slat, sclat, of. esclat a
   shiver, splinter, f. 'eclat, fr. of. esclater to shiver, to
   chip, f. 'eclater, fr. ohg. sleizen to tear, slit, split,
   fr. slimaczan to slit, g. schleissen. see slit, v. t.,
   and cf. eclat.
   1. min. an argillaceous rock which readily splits into thin
      plates; argillite; argillaceous schist.
      1913 webster

   2. any rock or stone having a slaty structure.
      1913 webster

   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.
          1913 webster

   4. an artificial material, resembling slate, and used for the
      above purposes.
      1913 webster

   5. a thin plate of any material; a flake. obs.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster

   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.
      1913 webster
see also:
slit eclat adhesive slate aluminous slate alum slate bituminous slate 
hornblende slate slate ax slate axe slate clay slate globe 
slate pencil slate rocks slate spar transparent slate 

Alum >> A Words
Alum, definition of term: Alum
alum_pag1.html

Clean Slate >> C Words
Clean Slate, definition of term: Clean Slate
clean+slate_pag1.html