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Glite Dictionary
whinstone

whinstone

9.9
A hard dark rock people use to make roads and buildings
  • noun
  • /ˈhwɪnˌstoʊn/
  • UK
translation icon : piedra de whin
  • The ancient wall was built from local whinstone, giving it a dark appearance.

Examples

  • Quarries in the area supply large amounts of whinstone for construction projects.

  • The path was paved with whinstone.

  • A layer of whinstone was used as the foundation for the new road.

  • Many builders prefer whinstone for its durability.

  • A layer of whinstone was used as the foundation for the new road.

  • Quarries in the area supply large amounts of whinstone for construction projects.

  • Many builders prefer whinstone for its durability in road surfaces.

Synonyms

whin
vswhinstone
  • Archaic
9.9

A hard dark rock like basalt that forms cliffs

is used mainly for road surfaces and building rather than noting location

Surface Forms

whinstone singular
whinstones plural

Morphology

whinstone = whin + stone (semi-transparent) = whin + stone

The compound structure whin + stone is form‑transparent, but 'whin' is a regional/dialect word unfamiliar to many learners, so the exact meaning 'hard dark rock (basalt)' is not fully deducible from common vocabulary.

Etymology

Whinstone starts with a local English/Scottish word whin, once used for the gorse plant and for rough, hard things, and it ends with stone 'stone'. So whinstone means a 'hard, dark rock' used for roads and buildings, which explains its modern meaning.