gravestone
gb/ɡɹˈeɪvstˌoʊn/ us/ɡɹˈeɪvstˌoʊn/
B2
English
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
stone marker on a grave
A stone that shows where someone is buried.
Usage pattern:
[a/the] gravestone (of [someone])
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes write it as two words (*grave stone*). It overlaps with tombstone/headstone; a gravestone can be any stone marker for a grave.
Synonyms
tombstone (Very close in meaning; common alternative term, especially in North American English.)
|
headstone (Often refers specifically to the upright stone at the head of a grave.)
|
grave marker (More general term; can be stone, metal, or another material.)
Collocations
a gravestone inscription
|a gravestone reads
|a weathered gravestone
|an old gravestone
|a cracked gravestone
|a gravestone marker
|to clean a gravestone
|to visit a gravestone
|to carve a gravestone
|to place flowers on a gravestone
Themes
death
|religion
|family
|culture
Examples
- They stood quietly by her gravestone and left a bunch of lilies.
- The gravestone was so worn that the name was hard to read.
- His gravestone reads, “Beloved father and friend.”
Learner examples
- We visited my grandfather’s gravestone.
- Her name is on the gravestone.
Noun
B2
entity
2
fake gravestone used as a prop
A fake gravestone used for decoration.
Usage pattern:
a foam/plastic/cardboard gravestone
Common mistake:
This sense refers to a decorative imitation, not a real marker in a cemetery.
Synonyms
prop tombstone (Highlights use in film, theater, or staged scenes.)
|
Halloween gravestone (Specifically for seasonal decoration.)
Collocations
a fake gravestone
|a foam gravestone
|a plastic gravestone
|a cardboard gravestone
|Halloween gravestones
|a gravestone prop
|to set up gravestones
|a yard gravestone decoration
Themes
arts
|holidays
|entertainment
Examples
- They put a few foam gravestones in the front yard for Halloween.
- The director ordered several gravestones as props for the cemetery scene.
Learner examples
- We bought a fake gravestone for Halloween.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gravestone
IPA
GB/ɡɹˈeɪvstˌoʊn/
US/ɡɹˈeɪvstˌoʊn/
Syllables & stress
grave - stone (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (grave)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gravestone
- Plural: gravestones
Word family
Expressions
gravestone doji
1/ɡɹˈeɪvstˌoʊn dˈoʊd͡ʒi/
fixed phrase
technical
bearish doji candlestick pattern
A special shape on a price chart that can suggest prices may start falling.
Examples
- After the rally, a gravestone doji appeared near the resistance level.
- Some traders treat a gravestone doji as a warning sign, but they look for confirmation.
gravestone rubbing
1/ɡɹˈeɪvstˌoʊn ɹˈʌbɪŋ/
fixed phrase
copying an inscription by rubbing
Making a picture of a gravestone by rubbing paper on it.
Examples
- On the field trip, the students learned how to do a gravestone rubbing.
- The museum workshop taught safe methods for making gravestone rubbings on newer stones.