stone : Idioms & Phrases

• noun a primitive stone artifact (usually made of sandstone) used as an abrader
  

WordNet

Al"um stone`

Definitions

1. (Min.) A subsulphate of alumina and potash; alunite.

Webster 1913

Arch" stone`

Definitions

1. A wedge-shaped stone used in an arch; a voussoir.

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• . (a) The commercial name of lapis lazuli. (b) Emery.

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• a limestone found impregnated with asphalt.

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• ivory. Obs. "Citron tables, or Atlantic stone." Milton.

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• pebbles formerly used in numeration.

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• (Min.), the lapis lazuli; also, the lazulite.

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• a species of limestone (oölite) found near Bath, used for building.

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• noun a calculus formed in the bladder
  cystolith.
  

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• noun a stone in a castle in Ireland that is said to impart skill in flattery to anyone who kisses it
  

WordNet

• a stone in Blarney castle, Ireland, said to make those who kiss it proficient in the use of blarney.

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• blue vitriol; sulphate of copper.

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• noun hydrated blue crystalline form of copper sulfate
  chalcanthite; blue copperas; blue vitriol.
  

WordNet

• (Min.), radiated barite, or barium sulphate, found in roundish masses composed of radiating fibers, first discovered near Bologna. It is phosphorescent when calcined.

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• . See Bologna stone, under Bologna.

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• . Same as Cromlech. Encyc. Brit.

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• (Zoöl), a massive reef-building coral having the surface covered by ridges separated by furrows so as to resemble somewhat the surface of the brain, esp. such corals of the genera Mæandrina and Diploria.

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• . See under Brain.

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• rock crystal, or brilliant crystals of quartz, found in the mountain limestone near Bristol, and used in making ornaments, vases, etc. When polished, it is called Bristol diamond.

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• . See Brownstone.

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Ca"en stone"

Definitions

1. A cream-colored limestone for building, found near Caen, France.

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• (Min.), a yellow species of carnelian, named from its resemblance in color to the plumage of the canary bird.

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• adjective satellite no longer changeable
  carved in stone.
  
  • the agreement is not yet set in stone

WordNet

• noun the stone seed of a cherry
  

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• noun a fine usually white clay formed by the weathering of aluminous minerals (as feldspar); used in ceramics and as an absorbent and as a filler (e.g., in paper)
  china clay; kaoline; porcelain clay; kaolin; terra alba.
  

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• noun a garnet ranging in color from yellow to brown
  essonite; hessonite.
  

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• (Min.), a variety of garnet, of a cinnamon or hyacinth red color, sometimes used in jewelry.

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• noun a stone that forms the top of wall or building
  copestone; stretcher; capstone.
  

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• red limestone. Prov. Eng.

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• the stone which lies at the corner of two walls, and unites them; the principal stone; especially, the stone which forms the corner of the foundation of an edifice; hence, that which is fundamental importance or indispensable. "A prince who regarded uniformity of faith as the corner stone of his government." Prescott.

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• . See Chalkstone, n., 2.

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• masses of calcareous matter found, at certain seasons of the year, on either side of the stomach of the European crawfishes, and formerly used in medicine for absorbent and antacid purposes; the gastroliths.

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Cross"-stone` noun

Definitions

1. (Min.) See Harmotome, and Staurotide.

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• stone hewn or chiseled to shape after having been split from the quarry.

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• stone delivered from the quarry rough, but brought to such sizes as are requisite for cutting to dimensions given.

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• a kind of jasper.

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• a name given, in the south of England, to weatherworn, rough pillars of gray sandstone scattered over the chalk downs, but in other countries generally in the form of circles, or in detached pillars.

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Dry"-stone` adjective

Definitions

1. Constructed of uncemented stone. "Dry-stone walls." Sir W. Scott.

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• noun a stone wall made with stones fitted together without mortar
  dry wall.
  

WordNet

• (Anat.), otoliths. See Otolith.

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• a curbstone.

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• noun United States architect (1902-1978)
  Stone.
  

WordNet

• noun a mixture of emery dust and a binder; can be molded into grindstones
  emery rock.
  

WordNet

• (Horol.), one of the two plates of a jewel in a timepiece; the part that limits the pivot's end play.

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• (Paleon.), an echinite.

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• a stone falling through the atmosphere; a meteorite; an aërolite.

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• (Min.), agalmatolite.

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• a hard, siliceous stone; a flint.

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• (Arch.), a siliceous stone used to rub stonework or brickwork to a smooth surface.

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• noun any plant of the genus Lithops native to Africa having solitary yellow or white flowers and thick leaves that resemble stones
  living stone; stoneface; lithops; stone plant; flowering stone; stone life face.
  

WordNet

• an imitation of a jewel or precious stone.

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• noun a stone laid at a ceremony to mark the founding of a new building
  

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Grav"el-stone" noun

Definitions

1. A pebble, or small fragment of stone; a calculus.

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Grin"dle stone"

Definitions

1. A grindstone. Obs.

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• noun United States jurist who was named chief justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1941 by Franklin D. Roosevelt (1872-1946)
  Harlan F. Stone; Stone; Harlan Fisk Stone.
  

WordNet

• noun United States jurist who was named chief justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1941 by Franklin D. Roosevelt (1872-1946)
  Harlan F. Stone; Stone; Harlan Fisk Stone.
  

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• noun United States jurist who served on the United States Supreme Court as chief justice (1872-1946)
  Stone.
  

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• noun United States jurist who was named chief justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1941 by Franklin D. Roosevelt (1872-1946)
  Harlan F. Stone; Stone; Harlan Fisk Stone.
  

WordNet

• one of several kinds of stone used for hones. See Novaculite.

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• noun United States journalist who advocated liberal causes (1907-1989)
  I. F. Stone; Stone.
  

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• (Print.), the stone on which the pages or columns of types are imposed or made into forms; called also imposing table.

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• (lapis infernalis), lunar caustic; formerly so called. The name was also applied to caustic potash.

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• noun United States journalist who advocated liberal causes (1907-1989)
  I. F. Stone; Stone.
  

WordNet

Jew's-stone`, Jew"stone` noun (Also<

• Jew's-stone
• Jewstone

)

Definitions

1. (Paleon.) A large clavate spine of a fossil sea urchin.

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• noun a calculus formed in the kidney
  nephrolith; urinary calculus; renal calculus.
  

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• . (Min.) See Nephrite, and Jade.

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• verb search thoroughly and exhaustively
  
  • The police left no stone unturned in looking for the President's murderer

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• (Script.), saints, as being quickened by the Spirit, and active in holiness.

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• rock in its native or original state or location; rock not quarried. " I now found myself on a rude and narrow stairway, the steps of which were cut of the living rock." Moore.

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• noun any plant of the genus Lithops native to Africa having solitary yellow or white flowers and thick leaves that resemble stones
  living stone; stoneface; lithops; stone plant; flowering stone; stone life face.
  

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• (Min.), a kind of serpentine from near Lizard Point, Cornwall, England, used for ornamental purposes.

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• noun United States feminist and suffragist (1818-1893)
  Stone.
  

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• a flint slate used by the ancients to try gold and silver; a touchstone. See Basanite.

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• . (Min.) See Meteorite.

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• stones which fall from the atmosphere, as after the explosion of a meteor.

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• (Min.), moss agate.

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• a large stone by the wayside on which the bearers rest a coffin. Eng. H. Taylor.

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• (Min.), nephrite; jade. See Nephrite.

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• noun latest part of the Stone Age beginning about 10,000 BC in the Middle East (but later elsewhere)
  Neolithic Age; Neolithic.
  

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• noun United States filmmaker (born in 1946)
  Stone.
  

WordNet

• . See Toadstone.

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• noun a stone used for paving
  

WordNet

Per"pend stone`

Definitions

1. See Perpender.

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Per"pent stone`

Definitions

1. See Perpender.

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• noun hypothetical substance that the alchemists believed to be capable of changing base metals into gold
  philosopher's stone; elixir.
  

WordNet

• an imaginary stone which the alchemists formerly sought as instrument of converting the baser metals into gold.

Webster 1913

• noun hypothetical substance that the alchemists believed to be capable of changing base metals into gold
  philosopher's stone; elixir.
  

WordNet

• a light, spongy stone, resembling a pumice, used by the ancients in dyeing, and said to be drying and astringent.

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• any species of gypsum. See Gypsum.

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Port"land stone"

Definitions

1. A yellowish-white calcareous freestone from the Isle of Portland in England, much used in building.

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• noun a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
  jewel; precious stone; gem.
  

WordNet

• noun a precious or semiprecious stone incorporated into a piece of jewelry
  jewel; precious stone; gem.
  

WordNet

• gems; jewels.

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• noun a composite rock made up of particles of varying size
  conglomerate.
  

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• . (Min.) See Conglomerate, n., 2.

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• noun a light glass formed on the surface of some lavas; used as an abrasive
  pumice.
  

WordNet

Pum"ice stone`

Definitions

1. Same as Pumice.

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Pur"beck stone`

Definitions

1. (Geol.) A limestone from the Isle of Purbeck in England.

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• a heavy stone used in the game of putting.

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• . Same as Novaculite.

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Ro-set"ta stone`

Definitions

1. A stone found at Rosetta, in Egypt, bearing a trilingual inscription, by aid of which, with other inscriptions, a key was obtained to the hieroglyphics of ancient Egypt. Brande & C.

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• . See Rocking-stone.

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Rock"ing-stone` noun

Definitions

1. A stone, often of great size and weight, resting upon another stone, and so exactly poised that it can be rocked, or slightly moved, with but little force.

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• noun a part of an inscribed granite stela that was originally about six feet tall and was set up in 196 BC; the inscriptions in hieroglyphics and Demotic and Greek gave the first clues to the decipherment of Egyptian hieroglyphics
  

WordNet

• (Min.), a soft stone, called also Tripoli (from the country from which it was formerly brought), used in all sorts of finer grinding and polishing in the arts, and for cleaning metallic substances. The name is also given to other friable siliceous stones applied to like uses.

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• a stone bearing a runic inscription.

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• satin spar.

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• (Paleon.), the fossil stem of an encrinite.

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• adjective satellite no longer changeable
  carved in stone.
  
  • the agreement is not yet set in stone

WordNet

• a sharpening stone used by shoemakers and other workers in leather.

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• a piece of glass or crystal supposed to have the property of exhibiting images of persons or things not present, indicating in that way future events.

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• a rich piece of ore displayed in order to tempt persons to embark in a mining enterprise.

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• noun a tall upright megalith; found primarily in England and northern France
  menhir.
  

WordNet

• noun a stone in a marsh or shallow water that can be stepped on in crossing
  
• noun any means of advancement
  
  • the job was just a stepping stone on his way to fame and riches

WordNet

Step"ping-stone` noun

Definitions

1. A stone to raise the feet above the surface of water or mud in walking.
2. Fig.: A means of progress or advancement.

   These obstacles his genius had turned into stepping-stones. Macaulay.

   That men may rise on stepping-stones Of their dead selves to higher things. Tennyson.

Webster 1913

• noun a general term for building materials
  

WordNet

• noun (archeology) the earliest known period of human culture, characterized by the use of stone implements
  

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• a supposed prehistoric age of the world when stone and bone were habitually used as the materials for weapons and tools; called also flint age. The bronze age succeeded to this.

Webster 1913

• noun brown fish of the Atlantic and Mediterranean found around rocks and shipwrecks
  wreckfish; Polyprion americanus.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of marine food fishes of the genus Serranus and allied genera, as Serranus Couchii, and Polyprion cernium of Europe; called also sea perch.

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• (Zoöl.), the wolf fish.

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• a method of boiling water or milk by dropping hot stones into it, in use among savages. Tylor.

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• (Zoöl.), any animal that bores stones; especially, one of certain bivalve mollusks which burrow in limestone. See Lithodomus, and Saxicava.

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• noun European trailing bramble with red berrylike fruits
  Rubus saxatilis.
  

WordNet

• (Bot.), a European trailing species of bramble (Rubus saxatilis).

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• noun someone who breaks up stone
  

WordNet

• a sore spot on the bottom of the foot, from a bruise by a stone.

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• . (Zoöl.) Same as Sand canal, under Sand.

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• (Zoöl.), any one of several species of small fresh-water North American catfishes of the genus Noturus. They have sharp pectoral spines with which they inflict painful wounds.

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• hard coal; mineral coal; anthracite coal.

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• (Zoöl.), any hard calcareous coral.

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• noun pale flesh with delicate texture and flavor; found in Florida but now very rare
  
• noun large edible crab of the southern coast of the United States (particularly Florida)
  Menippe mercenaria.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) A large crab (Menippe mercenaria) found on the southern coast of the United States and much used as food. (b) A European spider crab (Lithodes maia) .

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• (Zoöl.), a European crawfish (Astacus torrentium), by many writers considered only a variety of the common species (A. fluviatilis).

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• noun any Old World herb of the genus Aethionema; native of sunny limestone habitats
  stonecress.
  

WordNet

• . Same as Stone bruise, above.

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• noun large-headed large-eyed crepuscular or nocturnal shorebird of the Old World and tropical America having a thickened knee joint
  Burhinus oedicnemus; thick-knee.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) A large plover found in Europe (Edicnemus crepitans). It frequents stony places. Called also thick-kneed plover or bustard, and thick-knee. (b) The whimbrel . Prov. Eng. (c) The willet. Local, U.S.

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• noun a drill for penetrating rock
  rock drill; borer; bore bit.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) Same as Stone borer, above.

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• noun a facing (usually masonry) that supports an embankment
  revetment; revetement.
  

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• (Zoöl.), the merlin.

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• (Bot.), a European fern (Asplenium Ceterach) which grows on rocks and walls.

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• noun primitive winged insect with a flattened body; used as bait by fishermen; aquatic gilled larvae are carnivorous and live beneath stones
  plecopteran; stonefly.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), any one of many species of pseudoneuropterous insects of the genus Perla and allied genera; a perlid. They are often used by anglers for bait. The larvæ are aquatic.

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• noun fleshy indehiscent fruit with a single seed: e.g. almond; peach; plum; cherry; elderberry; olive; jujube
  drupe.
  

WordNet

• (Bot.), any fruit with a stony endocarp; a drupe, as a peach, plum, or cherry.

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• (Zoöl.), the mud lamprey, or pride.

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• a hammer formed with a face at one end, and a thick, blunt edge, parallel with the handle, at the other, used for breaking stone.

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• (Zoöl.), the merlin; so called from its habit of sitting on bare stones.

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• a jar made of stoneware.

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• noun any plant of the genus Lithops native to Africa having solitary yellow or white flowers and thick leaves that resemble stones
  living stone; stoneface; lithops; stone plant; flowering stone; stone life face.
  

WordNet

• (Paleon.), a fossil crinoid.

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• . (Zoöl.) See Stone roller, below.

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• noun Eurasian marten having a brown coat with pale breast and throat
  Martes foina; beech marten.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), a European marten (Mustela foina) allied to the pine marten, but having a white throat; called also beech marten.

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• a mason who works or builds in stone.

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• noun highly succulent stemless clump-forming plants with grey-green leaves similar in texture to lumps of granite; South Africa
  living rock; living granite.
  

WordNet

• rock oil, petroleum.

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• noun a slender roadside herb of western Europe and Mediterranean areas that has foliage resembling parsley and has white flowers with aromatic seeds
  Sison amomum.
  
• noun any plant of the genus Seseli having dense umbels of small white or pink flowers and finely divided foliage
  moon carrot.
  

WordNet

• (Bot.), an umbelliferous plant (Seseli Labanotis). See under Parsley.

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• noun medium-sized two-needled pine of southern Europe having a spreading crown; widely cultivated for its sweet seeds that resemble almonds
  umbrella pine; Pinus pinea; European nut pine.
  

WordNet

• . (Bot.) A nut pine. See the Note under Pine, and Piñon.

Webster 1913

• noun a surface excavation for extracting stone or slate
  pit; quarry.
  
  • a British term for `quarry' is `stone pit'

WordNet

• a quarry where stones are dug.

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• hard, inspissated pitch.

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• noun any plant of the genus Lithops native to Africa having solitary yellow or white flowers and thick leaves that resemble stones
  living stone; stoneface; lithops; stone plant; flowering stone; stone life face.
  

WordNet

• . (Zoöl.) (a) The European stone curlew . (b) Any one of several species of Asiatic plovers of the genus Esacus; as, the large stone plover (E. recurvirostris). (c) The gray or black-bellied plover . Prov. Eng. (d) The ringed plover. (e) The bar-tailed godwit. Prov. Eng. Also applied to other species of limicoline birds.

Webster 1913

• . (Zoöl.) (a) An American fresh-water fish (Catostomus nigricans) of the Sucker family. Its color is yellowish olive, often with dark blotches. Called also stone lugger, stone toter, hog sucker, hog mullet. (b) A common American cyprinoid fish (Campostoma anomalum); called also stone lugger.

Webster 1913

• noun erect perennial strong-scented with serrate pointed leaves and a loose panicle of yellowish flowers; the eastern United States
  horseweed; stone root; horse balm; richweed; stoneroot; Collinsonia canadensis.
  

WordNet

• (Zoöl.), the greater yellowlegs, or tattler. Local, U.S.

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• . (Zoöl.) (a) See Stone roller (a), above . (b) A cyprinoid fish (Exoglossum maxillingua) found in the rivers from Virginia to New York. It has a three-lobed lower lip; called also cutlips.

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• noun a fence built of rough stones; used to separate fields
  

WordNet

• the distance to which a stone may be thrown by the hand.

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• noun a short distance
  step.
  
  • it's only a step to the drugstore

WordNet

• adjective satellite completely blind
  

WordNet

Stone"-blind` adjective

Definitions

1. As blind as a stone; completely blind.

Webster 1913

• . Cf. G. steinbrech. (Bot.) Any plant of the genus Saxifraga; saxifrage.

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• adjective satellite lacking funds
  skint; stony-broke; bust; broke.
  
  • `skint' is a British slang term

WordNet

• adjective satellite completely cold
  
  • by the time he got back to his coffee it was stone-cold

WordNet

Stone"-cold` adjective

Definitions

1. Cold as a stone.

   Stone-cold without, within burnt with love's flame. Fairfax.

Webster 1913

• adjective satellite as lifeless as a stone
  

WordNet

Stone"-dead` adjective

Definitions

1. As dead as a stone.

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• adjective satellite totally deaf; unable to hear anything
  unhearing; profoundly deaf; deaf as a post.
  

WordNet

Stone"-deaf` adjective

Definitions

1. As deaf as a stone; completely deaf.

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• noun any plant of the genus Lithops native to Africa having solitary yellow or white flowers and thick leaves that resemble stones
  living stone; stoneface; lithops; stone plant; flowering stone; stone life face.
  

WordNet

• adjective satellite of the color of slate or granite
  slate-grey; stone-gray; slaty-gray; slate-gray; slatey; slaty; slaty-grey.
  
  • the slaty sky of dawn

WordNet

• adjective satellite of the color of slate or granite
  slate-grey; stone-gray; slaty-gray; slate-gray; slatey; slaty; slaty-grey.
  
  • the slaty sky of dawn

WordNet

Stone"-heart`ed adjective

Definitions

1. Hard-hearted; cruel; pitiless; unfeeling.

Webster 1913

Stone"-horse` noun

Definitions

1. Stallion. Obs. Mortimer.

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• (Mil.), a kind of large mortar formerly used in sieges for throwing a mass of small stones short distances.

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• noun erect perennial strong-scented with serrate pointed leaves and a loose panicle of yellowish flowers; the eastern United States
  horseweed; stone root; horse balm; richweed; stoneroot; Collinsonia canadensis.
  

WordNet

• adjective satellite totally sober
  cold sober.
  

WordNet

Stone"-still` adjective

Definitions

1. As still as a stone. Shak.

Webster 1913

• verb wash with stones to achieve a worn appearance
  stonewash.
  
  • stonewash blue jeans

WordNet

Stum"bling-stone` noun

Definitions

1. A stumbling-block.

   This stumbling-stone we hope to take away. T. Burnet.

Webster 1913

• noun large five-needled European pine; yields cembra nuts and a resinous exudate
  Swiss pine; cembra nut tree; Pinus cembra; arolla pine.
  

WordNet

• a flat gravestone. Scot. Written also through stane. Sir W. Scott.

Webster 1913

• to leave nothing untried for accomplishing one's purpose.
• to do everything that can be done; to use all practicable means to effect an object.

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• a weight equivalent to nineteen and a half pounds. Scot.

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• a kind of oilstone from Turkey; novaculite; called also Turkey oilstone.

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• (Min.), quartz penetrated by acicular crystals of rutile.

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• a sharpening and polishing stone used by cutlers; also, a finishing grindstone of fine texture.

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• a kind of crust deposited in wine casks. See 1st Tartar, 1.

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