stone
stone
Pronunciation
/stoʊn/
Word Form Variations
Noun:
Singular: stone
Plural: stones
Verb:
Base form: stone
Third-person singular present: stones
Past tense: stoned
Past participle: stoned
Present participle: stoning
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Noun
Definition 1: A hard, nonmetallic mineral matter that is found in the earth, often used as a building material, for paving, or as a component of various natural formations.
Synonyms: rock, pebble, boulder, gravel (collective), gem (if precious)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it describes a type of material. One might consider "soil" or "water" as contrasting elements of the natural world.)
Definition 2: The hard, seed-containing pit found in the center of certain fruits, such as peaches, plums, or cherries.
Synonyms: pit, seed, kernel
Antonyms: flesh, pulp
Definition 3: A unit of weight, primarily used in the United Kingdom and Ireland, equal to 14 pounds (approximately 6.35 kilograms).
Synonyms: (No common synonyms, as it's a specific unit of measure.)
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as it's a unit of measurement.)
Verb
Definition 1: To throw stones at something or someone, often with the intention of causing harm or expressing disapproval.
Synonyms: pelt, cast stones, lapidate (formal/archaic)
Antonyms: protect, shield, embrace, welcome
Definition 2: To remove the pit or seed from a fruit.
Synonyms: pit, de-seed
Antonyms: embed, insert (referring to putting the pit into something, though not a direct antonym)
Definition 3: To pave, cover, or line with stones.
Synonyms: pave, flag, cobble
Antonyms: uncover, dig up, unpave
Adjective
Definition 1: Made of stone; constructed from or composed of rock.
Synonyms: rocky, stony, lapidarian (formal)
Antonyms: wooden, metallic, plastic, fabric (depending on the material contrast)
Definition 2: Characterized by a lack of feeling or emotion; unyielding or cold.
Synonyms: cold, hard, unfeeling, impassive, rigid, callous
Antonyms: warm, compassionate, sensitive, emotional, soft, tender
Examples of Use
Books:
"He lifted the heavy stone and peered into the dark opening beneath it, hoping to find the hidden passage." (From a work of fiction, illustrating the noun form)
"The philosopher's work laid the stone foundation for modern ethical thought." (Figurative use of the noun "stone" to mean a fundamental element)
Newspapers:
"Local authorities plan to stone the new pedestrian paths with reclaimed historical pavers to maintain the area's aesthetic." (Local Gazette, illustrating the verb "to pave with stones")
"The precious stone, a rare blue diamond, was the center of attention at the Sotheby's auction." (The New York Times, illustrating the noun "gemstone")
Online Publications:
"Archaeologists recently unearthed ancient tools made of flaked stone at a dig site in the Rift Valley." (National Geographic Online)
"Activists gathered to protest the proposed law, arguing it was a stone wall against progress and human rights." (The Guardian Online, illustrating the adjective "unyielding")
Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: A character in the movie "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" might say, "This ancient stone tablet holds the key to the treasure." (Illustrating the noun "tablet")
Music: The Rolling Stones, a famous rock band, use "stones" in their name, referencing their gritty, enduring style. (Illustrating the plural noun)
Video Games: In games like "Minecraft," players collect various types of stone to craft tools and build structures. (Illustrating the noun "material")
Television: A cooking show might feature a segment on how to properly stone a cherry for a dessert recipe. (Illustrating the verb "to remove a pit")
General Public Discourse:
"Don't throw stones in glass houses." (A common proverb, using the plural noun "stones" figuratively)
"He had a stone face when he heard the bad news; you couldn't tell what he was thinking." (Informal use of the adjective "stone" to describe an unexpressive face)
"I need to lose a stone or two before my vacation." (Common usage in the UK for the unit of weight)
10 Quotes Using Stone
"The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone." (Psalm 118:22)
"A rolling stone gathers no moss." (Proverb)
"Don't throw stones at glass houses." (Proverb)
"I'm going to find a way to make you believe it. I'm going to build a stone wall around you." (Stephen King, Misery)
"Love is not a rock, it is a river. It is not a stone, it is a flower." (C. JoyBell C.)
"He who is without sin among you, let him throw a stone first." (John 8:7)
"Truth is like a stone, you can throw it and break a window, or use it to build a castle." (Lester B. Pearson)
"My heart is a stone, and my thoughts are like the cold, hard wind that blows across the moors." (Emily Brontë, Wuthering Heights)
"You can't get blood from a stone." (Proverb)
"The pen is mightier than the sword, but a well-thrown stone can still do a lot of damage." (Attributed to various sources, often playful)
Etymology
The word "stone" has a long history, going back thousands of years. It essentially means a "piece of rock."
Its journey to our modern English started with the Old English word "stān" (pronounced roughly like "stahn," with a long 'a' sound). This Old English word already meant "stone" or "rock," and it was used for everything from common rocks to precious gems and even things like kidney stones.
Before Old English, it came from an even older language called Proto-Germanic, where the word was reconstructed as "*stainaz" (the asterisk means it's a reconstructed word, not one we have written down directly). This Proto-Germanic word is the common ancestor of words for "stone" in many Germanic languages, like German (Stein), Dutch (steen), and the Scandinavian languages (sten or stein).
Going back even further, linguists believe that Proto-Germanic stainaz came from a much older, common ancestor for many European and Indian languages, called Proto-Indo-European. The root there was something like "*steyh₂-" or "*stai-," which had a broader meaning related to "stiffening" or "something hard." This connection explains why words in other language families, like Greek (stia meaning "pebble") and Old Church Slavonic (stena meaning "wall"), also share a distant link to the idea of "stone."
So, the first known use of the word "stone" (in its direct Old English form) was as the noun "stān," meaning a discrete piece of rock, and that meaning has stayed pretty consistent throughout its history.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Stone
Here's a list of phrases and idioms using the word "stone":
A rolling stone gathers no moss. (Someone who keeps moving or changing jobs/places doesn't accumulate responsibilities or possessions.)
To leave no stone unturned. (To search thoroughly; to explore every possibility.)
To be set in stone. (To be fixed and unchangeable.)
To throw stones (at someone/something). (To criticize or accuse someone, especially while being flawed oneself.)
A stone's throw (away). (A very short distance.)
To have a heart of stone. (To be cold, unfeeling, or merciless.)
To kill two birds with one stone. (To achieve two things at once.)
You can't get blood from a stone. (It's impossible to get something from someone who has nothing or is unwilling to give.)
To be stoned. (Slang for being under the influence of drugs, especially marijuana.)
To sink like a stone. (To fail completely and quickly.)
The first stone. (Refers to the initial action or accusation in a conflict, from the biblical phrase "Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone.")
Stone cold. (Completely cold, often used for food or a person's demeanor.)
Stone deaf. (Completely deaf.)
Stone broke. (Completely without money.)
Stone-faced. (Showing no emotion.)
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of stone from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
