stəun n. & v. --n. 1 a
solid non-metallic
mineral matter, of
which rock is
made. b a
piece of
this,
esp. a
small piece. 2
Building a =
LIMESTONE (Portland stone). b =
SANDSTONE (Bath stone). 3 Mineral. =
precious stone. 4 a
stony meteorite, an
aerolite. 5 (often in comb.) a piece of stone of a
definite shape or
for a
particular purpose (tombstone; stepping-stone). 6 a a
thing resembling stone in hardness or
form, e.g.
the hard case of the
kernel in
some fruits. b
Med. (often in pl.) a hard
morbid concretion in the
body esp. in the
kidney or gall-bladder (gallstones). 7 (pl. same)
Brit. a
unit of
weight equal to 14 lb. (6.35 kg). 8 (attrib.) a made of stone. b of the
colour of stone. --v.tr. 1 pelt
with stones. 2
remove the stones
from (fruit). 3
face or
pave etc. with stone. øcast (or throw) stones (or the
first stone)
make aspersions on a person's
character etc. leave no stone
unturned try all possible means. Stone
Age a
prehistoric period when weapons
and tools
were made of stone. stone-coal
anthracite. stone-cold completely
cold. stone-cold
sober completely sober. stone the crows Brit. sl. an
exclamation of
surprise or
disgust. stone
curlew any mottled
brown and
grey wader of the
family Burhinidae, esp. Burhinus oedicnemus, inhabiting esp. stony
open country. stone-dead completely
dead. stone-deaf completely
deaf. stone-fruit a
fruit with
flesh or
pulp enclosing a stone. stone
parsley an umbelliferous hedge-plant, Sison amomum, with
aromatic seeds. stone pine a S.
European pine-tree, Pinus pinea, with branches at the top spreading like an
umbrella. stone-pit a quarry. a stone's
throw a
short distance. øøstoned adj. (also in comb.). stoneless adj. stoner n. [OE stan f. Gmc]