shale

[sheyl]

noun

1. a rock of fissile or laminated structure formed by the consolidation of clay or argillaceous material.

shale

/ ʃeɪl /

noun

1. a dark fine-grained laminated sedimentary rock formed by compression of successive layers of clay-rich sediment

shale

1. A fine-grained sedimentary rock consisting of compacted and hardened clay, silt, or mud. Shale forms in many distinct layers and splits easily into thin sheets or slabs. It varies in color from black or gray to brown or red.

shale

1. A sedimentary rock formed from layers of clay.

Other Word Forms

• shalelike adjective
• shaley adjective
• shaly adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of shale¹

1740–50; origin uncertain; compare obsolete shale to split (said of stone), to shell, derivative of shale shell, husk, Old English scealu shell, husk; scale ²

Word History and Origins

Origin of shale¹

Old English scealu _shell ; compare German Schalstein laminated limestone; see _scale ¹ , _scale ²

Example Sentences

Until now, an ever-growing supply of natural gas unleashed by the shale boom has more than absorbed domestic and foreign demand.

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The industry’s head count has never come close to making a full recovery, as U.S. shale companies have found ways to pump more oil with fewer people.

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Saudi Arabia was one of America’s top crude suppliers before the shale boom eroded U.S. dependence on foreign oil.

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To improve their odds, Russian majors planned to tap shale formations in Siberia using techniques developed in Texas and North Dakota but the war prevented them.

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The government says it plans to pass legislation to permanently ban fracking for shale gas in England.

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Related Words

• sediment