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Glite Dictionary
gritstone

gritstone

9.1
A hard coarse rock made mostly of sand grains
  • noun
  • /ˈɡrɪt.stəʊn/
  • UK
translation icon : piedra de arenisca
  • The gritstone cliffs are popular among climbers.

Examples

  • The Peak District is famous for its towering gritstone edges and cliffs.

  • The old cottage was built entirely from local gritstone blocks.

  • Geologists collected samples of gritstone from the northern hillside for analysis.

  • Many gritstones are found in the Peak District.

  • The ancient castle was built from durable gritstone, which has stood the test of time against harsh weather.

  • The builder used gritstone for the walls because of its strength and ability to resist erosion.

  • During our hike, we walked along a path lined with gritstone cliffs that offered beautiful views of the valley.

Synonyms

grit
vsgritstone
  • UK
33 8.6

A hard rough rock made of sand used in building

emphasizes quartz or silica dominance rather than feldspar presence
sandstone
vsgritstone
  • Specialized
18 3.3

A hard rock formed when sand is pressed and held together over time

is a specific hard coarse rock made mainly of quartz or silica
gritrock
vsgritstone
  • UK
9.9

A hard coarse rock made of sand used for building and cliffs

focuses on composition of mainly quartz or silica grains

How Hard

quartzite
  • Specialized
1 8.8
granite
64 3.5
gritstone
  • UK
9.1
sandstone
  • Specialized
18 3.3
shale
  • Specialized
57 5.7

Surface Forms

gritstone singular
gritstones plural

Morphology

gritstone = grit + stone (transparent) = grit + stone

A straightforward compound 'grit' + 'stone' meaning a stone composed of coarse grit; the meaning follows directly from its components.

Etymology

Gritstone joins grit ('small hard grains') and stone ('rock'), so it literally means a 'rock made of grit'. That's why gritstone refers to a hard, coarse, sandy rock often seen in cliffs and used for building.