shale
//ʃeɪl//
Noun
shaleSingular
shalesPlural
1
A fine-grained sedimentary rock formed from compressed mud or clay, typically splitting easily into thin layers.
Shale is a type of sedimentary rock that splits into thin layers.
2
Rock of this type used as a source of oil or natural gas through hydraulic fracturing.
The company extracts natural gas from shale using hydraulic fracturing.