shale /ʃeɪl/noun 3verb 1forms 3 noun3 •A fine-grained sedimentary rock of a thin, laminated, and often friable, structure.As on all large green roofs, the soil is not dirt exactly but a gravel-like growing medium of granulated pumice, shales, clays and other minerals. — 2007 •The shale oil and shale gas segment of the oil and gas industry. •A shell, scale or husk; a cod or pod.the green shales of a bean — 1624 verb1 •To take off the shell or coat of. formsshaled · shaling · shales
