n., v., & adj.
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. 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. slating n. slaty adj.
[ ME s(c)late f. OF esclate, fem. form of esclat SLAT ]