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slate fence

slate fence

8.4
A fence made from vertical flat pieces of slate wired together
  • noun
  • /sleɪt fɛns/
translation icon : valla de pizarra
  • The old farmhouse was bordered by a sturdy slate fence that had stood the test of time.

Examples

  • Many gardens in the region use a traditional slate fence for decoration and privacy.

  • We installed a new slate fence last summer.

  • A skilled mason was hired to repair several loose slabs in the slate fence along the road.

  • The slate fence surrounds the garden.

  • Many gardens in the region use a traditional slate fence for decoration and privacy.

  • A skilled mason was hired to repair several loose slabs in the slate fence along the road.

  • The old farmhouse was bordered by a sturdy slate fence that had stood the test of time.

Synonyms

fence
vsslate fence
567 1.0

A structure around land to mark or protect it

is a specific palisade made from vertical stone slabs wired together
fencing
vsslate fence
23 2.7

Materials like wood or wire used to make a barrier around land

is the finished palisade made from vertical stone slabs wired together

How Durable

stone wall
20 2.7
slate fence
8.4
fence
567 1.0
picket fence
23 2.0

Surface Forms

slate fence singular
slate fences plural

Morphology

slate + fence

The meaning is directly compositional: 'slate' names the material and 'fence' the structure, so the phrase denotes a fence made of slate slabs. This material+object compounding is a common, regular English pattern (and found cross-linguistically), so a B1 learner knowing both words can infer the meaning.

Etymology

The name slate fence comes from the simple picture of thin stone slabs of slate placed vertically and wired together to make a fence. Imagine flat, dark stones standing side by side to form a strong barrier, so the phrase means 'a fence made from slate slabs'.