A mineral used for polishing glass, marble, and metals, composed chiefly of silica, with a little alumina, lime, iron oxide, and water.

plural of polishing slate

plural of Bethe-Slater curve

A chart showing the exchange energy for transition metals as a function of the ratio of the interatomic distance to the radius of the electron shell. It illustrates why certain metals are ferromagnetic and others are antiferromagnetic.

An argillaceous rock that splits readily into thin sheets.

plural of clay slate

(Australia) Freedom to act without repercussions; free rein.

(nautical) A double slate, marked and ruled on the inside, for recording the log.

plural of log slate

Larus schistisagus, a large gull.