sandstone
gb/sˈændstˌoʊn/ us/sˈændstˌoʊn/
B2
English
~ 9600
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B2
entity
1
sedimentary rock made of sand grains
A type of rock that is made from sand that has been pressed and held together over a long time.
Usage pattern:
[something] is made of sandstone
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes treat "sandstone" as a regular countable noun and say *"a sandstone"* when they mean the material or the rock type in general. In everyday English, "sandstone" is usually used as an uncountable material noun: "The building is made of sandstone," not *"made of a sandstone."* However, geologists may talk about "a sandstone" to mean a specific sandstone layer or unit.
Synonyms
sedimentary rock (More general scientific term; sandstone is one specific type of sedimentary rock.)
|
stone (Very general word for hard rock material; less specific than sandstone.)
Antonyms
soil (Loose surface material of the ground, as opposed to solid rock like sandstone.)
Collocations
sandstone cliffs
|sandstone formations
|red sandstone
|sandstone plateau
|layers of sandstone
|weathered sandstone
Themes
geology
|nature
|materials
|science
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The canyon walls are made of layered sandstone that has eroded into strange shapes.
- Fossils are often found in sandstone because the grains trap and preserve ancient plants and animals.
- Over millions of years, the shifting desert dunes were turned into solid sandstone.
- The pale sandstone contrasts sharply with the dark volcanic rocks nearby.
- Geologists took samples of the sandstone to study the ancient environment in which it formed.
Learner examples
- We walked between high sandstone cliffs near the river.
- The castle stands on a block of red sandstone.
- Many dinosaur bones were found in this soft sandstone.
- Sandstone breaks more easily than hard rock like granite.
- Rain and wind slowly change the shape of sandstone rocks.
Noun
B2
entity
2
sandstone as building stone
Sandstone that is cut and used to build or decorate buildings, walls, and other structures.
Usage pattern:
[something] is built of sandstone
Common mistake:
Learners may not realize that the same word "sandstone" can refer both to the natural rock in the ground and to the prepared stone used in buildings. In building contexts, it is usually wrong to add another word like *"sandstone stone"*; simply say "sandstone blocks" or "sandstone walls," not *"sandstone stones".*
Synonyms
building stone (General term for any stone used in construction; sandstone is one specific type.)
Antonyms
concrete (A man-made construction material, contrasting with natural building stone like sandstone.)
Collocations
sandstone building
|sandstone facade
|sandstone block
|sandstone church
|carved sandstone
|local sandstone
Themes
materials
|architecture
|construction
|housing
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Many of the old city halls in Europe are built from warm-colored sandstone.
- The architect chose local sandstone for the outer walls to match nearby historic buildings.
- Over time, pollution has blackened the sandstone facades on the main square.
- They replaced the damaged sandstone blocks with new ones from the same quarry.
- The temple’s sandstone columns are finely carved with detailed patterns.
Learner examples
- The church is made of yellow sandstone.
- Workers cleaned the old sandstone walls.
- They used sandstone blocks to build the garden wall.
- This town has many sandstone houses in the center.
- The steps are cut from heavy sandstone.
Noun
C1
property
3
pale brownish-yellow color
A light brown color, like dry sand or sandstone rock.
Usage pattern:
[something] is a sandstone color
Common mistake:
Learners may think "sandstone" can be used like a basic color word in all contexts, but as a color term it is mostly used in design, fashion, or decoration and usually appears with another word like "color," "tone," or a noun it modifies: "sandstone walls," "a sandstone coat."
Synonyms
beige (Very similar light brown color; "beige" is more common and slightly broader in use than "sandstone" as a color term.)
Antonyms
jet black (A very dark color, opposite in lightness to the pale sandstone shade.)
Collocations
sandstone color
|in soft sandstone tones
|sandstone paint
|sandstone tiles
|sandstone upholstery
Themes
colors
|design
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- The living room walls are painted in a warm sandstone that makes the space feel cozy.
- She chose a sandstone for the kitchen tiles to match the natural wood cabinets.
- The designer recommended soft sandstone tones to give the office a calm, neutral look.
Learner examples
- He bought a coat in a sandstone color.
- The hotel uses sandstone walls and carpets for a warm look.
- We painted the room a light sandstone to make it brighter.
- Her bag is a soft sandstone shade, not too dark.
- These curtains are almost white, with a little sandstone in them.
Grammar
Dictionary form
sandstone
IPA
GB/sˈændstˌoʊn/
US/sˈændstˌoʊn/
Syllables & stress
sand - stone (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (sand)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: sandstone
- Plural: sandstone, sandstones
Word family
Expressions
No expressions linked to this entry yet.