slate fence
- noun
- /sleɪt fɛns/
- The old farmhouse was bordered by a sturdy slate fence that had stood the test of time.
Examples
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Many gardens in the region use a traditional slate fence for decoration and privacy.
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We installed a new slate fence last summer.
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A skilled mason was hired to repair several loose slabs in the slate fence along the road.
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The slate fence surrounds the garden.
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Many gardens in the region use a traditional slate fence for decoration and privacy.
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A skilled mason was hired to repair several loose slabs in the slate fence along the road.
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The old farmhouse was bordered by a sturdy slate fence that had stood the test of time.
Synonyms
A structure around land to mark or protect it
Materials like wood or wire used to make a barrier around land
How Durable
Surface Forms
Morphology
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'.