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shale

noun \ˈshāl\

: a soft kind of rock that splits easily into flat pieces

Full Definition of SHALE

: a fissile rock that is formed by the consolidation of clay, mud, or silt, has a finely stratified or laminated structure, and is composed of minerals essentially unaltered since deposition

— shal·ey also shaly \ˈshā-lē\ adjective

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Origin of SHALE

probably from obsolete or dialect shale scale, shell, from Middle English, from Old English scealu — more at shell

First Known Use: 1747

Rhymes with SHALE

ail, ale, bail, bale, Bâle, brail, braille, Braille, dale, fail, flail, frail, Gael, gale, Gale, grail, hail, hale, jail, kale, mail, male, nail, pail, pale, quail, Quayle, rail, sail, sale, scale, snail, stale, swale, tael, tail, taille, tale, trail, vail, vale, veil, wail, wale, whale, Yale

SHALE Defined for Kids

shale

noun \ˈshāl\

Definition of SHALE for Kids

: a rock with a fine grain formed from clay, mud, or silt

Learn More About SHALE

Spanish Central: Spanish translation of "shale"

Nglish: Translation of "shale" for Spanish speakers

Britannica English: Translation of "shale" for Arabic speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about "shale"

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