Meaning & Definition of Shale in English

Detailed Definitions

• Definition: A metamorphosed form of clay-rich sedimentary rock that is often layered.

  Example Sentence: The drilling revealed that the formation was primarily composed of shale.

• Definition: A rock that easily splits into thin layers or sheets.

  Example Sentence: The shale in that area is known for its fissility.

Etymology

Origin: Middle English, from Old English 'scealu', meaning 'to split'.

Synonyms

Common Phrases and Expressions

• shale gas: Natural gas that is found trapped within shale formations.
• oil shale: Shale that contains significant amounts of kerogen, from which liquid hydrocarbons can be produced.
• shale formation: A geological formation primarily composed of shale.

Translations

• Spanish: esquisto

• French: schiste

• German: Schiefer

• Russian: сланец

Related Words

• mudstone: A sedimentary rock that is composed of mud and is similar to shale but lacks the fissility.

• slate: A fine-grained, foliated metamorphic rock that can easily be split into thin sheets, which forms from shale.

• kerogen: A solid organic material derived from the degradation of organic matter in sedimentary rocks, including shale.

Slang Meanings of shale

• Meaning: To break or split easily.

  Example Sentence: That material is so soft it just shales apart.