■ noun
1》 a fine-grained grey, green, or bluish-purple metamorphic rock easily split into smooth, flat plates.
↘a flat plate of ~ used as roofing material.
2》 a plate of ~ formerly used in schools for writing on.
3》 a bluish-grey colour.
4》 a list of candidates for election to a post or office.
↘ Brit. a record of a person's debt or credit: put it on the ~.
↘ chiefly N. Amer. a range of something on offer.
5》 a board showing the identifying details of a take of a film, held in front of the camera at the beginning and end of the take.
■ verb
1》 cover (a roof) with ~s.
2》 Brit. informal criticize severely.
3》 chiefly N. Amer. schedule; plan.
↘nominate as a candidate for an office or post.
Derivatives
slaty adjective
Origin
ME sclate , sklate , shortening of OFr. esclate , feminine synonymous with esclat (see slat ).