shale

shale

noun \ˈshāl\

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

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

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Any of a group of fine-grained, laminated sedimentary rocks consisting of silt- and clay-sized particles. Shale constitutes roughly 60% of the sedimentary rock in the Earth's crust. Shales are commercially important, particularly in the ceramics industry. They are a valuable raw material for tile, brick, and pottery and constitute a major source of alumina for portland cement. In addition, advances in recovery methods may one day make oil shale a practical source for liquid petroleum.