hailstone

noun

hail·​stone ˈhāl-ˌstōn How to pronounce hailstone (audio)
: a pellet of hail

Examples of hailstone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Huge hailstone pelt Austin in severe thunderstorms last night in Texas The National Weather Service began tracking a low pressure system Monday, which is expected to travel across the Gulf of Mexico and impact the entire Eastern Seaboard. Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 10 Apr. 2024 Research suggests that climate change will cause large hailstones to become more common. Evan Bush, NBC News, 2 Sep. 2024 According to the National Weather Service, hailstones are formed when raindrops are carried upward by thunderstorm updrafts into extremely cold areas of the atmosphere, causing the raindrops to freeze. Claire Reid, Journal Sentinel, 18 Oct. 2024 In May, a derecho punched windows out of Houston skyscrapers and storms dropped giant hailstones. Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for hailstone 

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hailstone was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near hailstone

Cite this Entry

“Hailstone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hailstone. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

hailstone

noun
hail·​stone ˈhā(ə)l-ˌstōn How to pronounce hailstone (audio)
: a small lump of hail

More from Merriam-Webster on hailstone

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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