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greenstone

greenstone

7.8
A greenish rock used long ago to make tools or jewelry
  • noun
  • /ˈɡriːnstoʊn/
translation icon : piedra verde
  • Small pigs and dogs; armshells; shell disc necklace units; obsidian; greenstone axe blades; adzes in ceremonial handles; dogs' teeth necklaces; pigs.

Examples

  • Archaeologists uncovered numerous ancient tools made from greenstone during the excavation.

  • Even so, the retraded objects that are documented, such as young pigs, dogs, armshells, and greenstone axe blades, were an essential part of their annual round of long-distance trading.

    Academic text (1994)
  • The necklace was adorned with greenstone beads that shimmered in the sunlight.

  • The rare greenstone axe blades were essential for communication between tribes in ancient trade networks.

Synonyms

jade
vsgreenstone
40 4.9

A hard green stone used for jewelry and ornaments

is used historically for making tools and ornaments rather than only jewelry
chrysolite
vsgreenstone
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A yellow-green or brown gem found in hard rocks

is mainly a greenish rock used historically for tools and ornaments
jadestone
vsgreenstone
7.7

A hard green or white stone used for jewelry and carving

is mainly noted for ancient tool and ornament use not modern jewelry
jadeite
vsgreenstone
  • Specialized
9.9

A rare hard green stone used to make jewellery and small carvings

is valued for ancient tool making and simple ornaments rather than gem use
bowenite
vsgreenstone
  • Specialized
9.9

A greenish stone like jade that people use for jewelry

is a simpler green rock used historically for tools or ornaments
amazonite
vsgreenstone
  • Specialized
9.8

A green or bluish-green mineral used as a gemstone

is a rough green rock often used in ancient times for tools
cancrinite
vsgreenstone
  • Specialized
9.9

A rare yellow or green mineral that forms in volcanic rocks and people use as a gem

is generally a greenish rock with practical ancient use not collector focus
titanite
vsgreenstone
  • Specialized
9.9

A colored mineral often yellow or green, used as a gemstone and source of titanium

is a greenish rock mainly linked to ancient tool and ornament making

How Blue

blue stone
  • Archaic
1 7.8
turquoise
8 5.6
teal
31 2.7
greenstone
7.8

Surface Forms

greenstone singular
greenstones plural

Morphology

greenstone = green + stone (transparent) = green + stone

Simple compound of 'green' + 'stone' where the meaning (a greenish rock used for tools or ornaments) is directly conveyed by the components.

Etymology

The word greenstone is simply the two English words green and stone, meaning 'green' and 'stone'. People long ago used these green rocks to make tools and jewelry, so greenstone now often means a greenish rock used for tools or ornaments.