Webster's English Dictionary

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slate

1. slate \'sla-t\ \-.li-k\ n [ME, fr. MF esclat splinter] 1: a piece of 
   construction material (as laminated rock) prepared as a shing le for 
   roofing and siding 2: a dense fine-grained rock produced by the compression 
   of clays, shales,  and various other rocks so as to develop a 
   characteristic cleavage 3: a tablet of material (as slate) used for writing 
   on  4a: a record of deeds or events {a clean ~}  4b: a list of candidates 
   for nomination or election  5a: a dark purplish gray  5b: any of various 
   grays similar in color to common roofing slates  - slate aj
2. slate vt 1: to cover with slate or a slatelike substance {~ a roof}  2: 
   to register, schedule, or designate for action or appointment 
3. slate vt [prob. alter. of 3slat] 1: to thrash or pummel severely  
   chiefly Brit  2: to criticize or censure severely : BERATE