1 [noncount] : a hard substance that comes from the ground and is used for building, carving, etc.
▪ The pedestal is made of stone. — often used before another noun ▪ stone buildings ▪ a stone wall 2 [count] a : a small piece of rock
▪ We threw stones [=(US) rocks] at the sign.
b : a piece of rock used for a particular purpose
▪ His birthdate and date of death were carved on the stone. — see also headstone 3 [count] : a jewel
▪ precious stones [=gemstones] 4 [count] : a small, hard object that sometimes forms in a part of the body (such as the kidney)
▪ She had stones in her bladder. — see also gallstone, kidney stone 5 [count] chiefly Brit : a large, hard seed found in the center of some fruits (such as plums and peaches) : pit 6 plural stone [count] Brit : a British unit of weight equal to 14 pounds (6.35 kilograms)
▪ He weighs 12 stone. — abbr. st
▪ The pedestal is made of stone. — often used before another noun ▪ stone buildings ▪ a stone wall
▪ We threw stones [=(US) rocks] at the sign.
b : a piece of rock used for a particular purpose
▪ His birthdate and date of death were carved on the stone. — see also headstone
▪ precious stones [=gemstones]
▪ She had stones in her bladder. — see also gallstone, kidney stone
▪ He weighs 12 stone. — abbr. st
a stone's throw
: a short distance
▪ The high school is just a stone's throw from his house. ▪ She lives just a stone's throw away from the beach.
▪ The high school is just a stone's throw from his house. ▪ She lives just a stone's throw away from the beach.
carved/etched/set/written in stone
: permanent or not able to be changed
▪ These new rules are not carved in stone; if they don't work, we'll change them.
▪ These new rules are not carved in stone; if they don't work, we'll change them.
kill two birds with one stone — see 1kill
leave no stone unturned
: to make every possible effort to find someone or something
▪ Their lawyer said that he would leave no stone unturned in trying to find more evidence. ▪ The researchers left no stone unturned in their search for the original documents.
▪ Their lawyer said that he would leave no stone unturned in trying to find more evidence. ▪ The researchers left no stone unturned in their search for the original documents.
sink like a stone — see 1sink




