\Slate\, n. [OE. slat, OF. esclat a shiver, splinter, F.
['e]clat, fr. OF. esclater to shiver, to chip, F. ['e]clater,
fr. OHG. sliezen to tear, slit, split, fr. sl[=i]zan 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.
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 {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 lamin[ae],
   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\, v. 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\, v. t. [Cf. AS. sl[=ae]ting a privilege of
hunting.]
To set a dog upon; to bait; to slat. See 2d {Slat}, 3. [Prov.
Eng. & Scot.] [Written also {slete}.] --Ray.