Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Language: Old English
Origin: scealu 'shell, scale'

shale

 noun
     
Related topics: Geology
shale [uncountable]
HEG a smooth soft rock which breaks easily into thin flat pieces
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

Dictionary pictures of the day
Do you know what each of these is called?
What is the word for picture 1? What is the word for picture 2? What is the word for picture 3? What is the word for picture 4?
Click on any of the pictures above to find out what it is called.

Explore our topic dictionary

Browse the dictionary