1
: a concretion of earthy or mineral matter:
a(1)
: such a concretion of indeterminate size or shape
(2)
: rock
b
: a piece of rock for a specified function: such as
(1)
: a building block
(2)
: a paving block
(3)
: a precious stone : gem
(4)
(5)
(6)
(7)
: a surface upon which a drawing, text, or design to be lithographed is drawn or transferred
2
: something resembling a small stone: such as
b
: the hard central portion of a drupaceous fruit (such as a peach)
c
: a hard stony seed (as of a date)
3
plural usually stone
: any of various units of weight
especially
: an official British unit equal to 14 pounds (6.3 kilograms)
4
a
b
: a round playing piece used in various games (such as backgammon or go)
5
: a stand or table with a smooth flat top on which to impose or set type
stoned; stoning; stones
1
: to hurl stones at
especially
: to kill by pelting with stones
2
archaic
: to make hard or insensitive to feeling
3
: to face, pave, or fortify with stones
4
: to remove the stones or seeds of (a fruit)
5
a
: to rub, scour, or polish with a stone
b
: to sharpen with a whetstone
Synonyms
Noun
Verb
Adjective
- absolute
- all-out
- arrant
- blank
- blooming [chiefly British]
- bodacious [Southern & Midland]
- categorical
- categoric
- clean
- complete
- consummate
- crashing
- damn
- damned
- dead
- deadly
- definite
- downright
- dreadful
- fair
- flat
- flat-out
- out-and-out
- outright
- perfect
- plumb
- profound
- pure
- rank
- regular
- sheer
- simple
- stark
- straight-out
- thorough
- thoroughgoing
- total
- unadulterated
- unalloyed
- unconditional
- unmitigated
- unqualified
- utter
- very
Examples of stone in a Sentence
Noun
The pedestal is made of stone.
His birthdate and date of death were carved on the stone.
Verb
He was stoned to death for his crimes.
Stone the peaches before serving.
Adverb
The soup was stone cold.
Adjective
the stone stupidity of the senator's statements embarrassed even her staffers
Recent Examples on the Web
Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Hand stitched in a stone’s throw away from Cornelia Street in New York City, this 100 percent cashmere sweater is available in oatmeal, black, red, and — wait for it!
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 May 2023
The Aris sub-collection represents a group of multi-stone pieces with mixed-shape diamonds, while Monaco includes quintessential princess cut diamonds, and Reign embodies sophistication with glamorous diamonds and gemstone pieces.
—Lauren Tappan, Town & Country, 12 Oct. 2022
See all Example Sentences for stone 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Noun
Polished stone floors, marble surfaces and oversized, padded leather headboards bring a layer of opulence; while the open-plan living-dining areas are made cosy with squidgy sofas, architectural-style lighting and landscape paintings.
—Angelina Villa-Clarke, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
Hand stitched in a stone’s throw away from Cornelia Street in New York City, this 100 percent cashmere sweater is available in oatmeal, black, red, and — wait for it!
—Claire Sullivan, WWD, 21 Nov. 2024
Adjective
The soils are predominantly stone with abundant limestone.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 25 May 2023
The Aris sub-collection represents a group of multi-stone pieces with mixed-shape diamonds, while Monaco includes quintessential princess cut diamonds, and Reign embodies sophistication with glamorous diamonds and gemstone pieces.
—Lauren Tappan, Town & Country, 12 Oct. 2022
See all Example Sentences for stone
Dictionary Entries Near stone
Cite this Entry
“Stone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/stone. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
stone
1 of 4 noun1
a
: earth or mineral matter hardened in a mass
b
: a piece of rock not as fine as gravel
throw stones
c
: a piece of rock used for some special purpose (as for a monument or in construction)
d
2
b
: a stony seed or one (as of a plum) enclosed in a stony cover
3
plural usually stone
: any of various units of weight
especially
: a British unit equal to 14 pounds (6.3 kilograms)
stone
2 of 4 adjective
: of, relating to, or made of stone
stone
3 of 4 verb
stoned; stoning
1
: to throw stones at
especially
: to kill by hitting with stones
2
: to remove the stones or seeds of (a fruit)
stoner
noun
stone
4 of 4 adverb
: in a complete manner : entirely
the soup is stone cold
—often used in combination
they are stone-broke
Medical Definition
stone
noun1
2
plural usually stone
: any of various units of weight
especially
: an official British unit equal to 14 pounds (6.3 kilograms)
Biographical Definition
Stone 1 of 3
biographical name (1)
Harlan Fiske 1872–1946 American jurist; chief justice U.S. Supreme Court (1941–46)
Stone
2 of 3biographical name (2)
Irving 1903–1989 originally surname Tennenbaum American writer
Stone
3 of 3biographical name (3)
Lucy 1818–1893 American suffragist
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