living stone

noun

plural living stones

: any of a genus (Lithops of the family Aizoaceae) of very small, stemless, succulent plants of southern Africa that typically have a pair of thickened leaves forming a stonelike body with a slit on top from which a usually solitary, sessile flower emerges : lithops

Living stones, named for their rocky appearance, bury the bulk of their leaves underground, taking a dive for shade.—

Mary Hoff

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of living stone was in 1930

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Living stone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/living%20stone. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Geographical Definition

Livingstone

geographical name

Liv·ing·stone ˈli-viŋ-stən

city on the Zambezi River in southern Zambia population 134,000

Biographical Definition

Livingstone

biographical name

Liv·ing·stone ˈli-viŋ-stən

David 1813–1873 Scottish missionary and explorer in Africa

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