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Glite Dictionary
Granite State

Granite State

2 3.4
A nickname for New Hampshire because of its granite hills
  • proper noun
  • /ˈɡrænɪt steɪt/
translation icon : Granite State
  • Tourists flock to the Granite State each fall to see the vibrant foliage.
  • win in the Granite State
  • Granite State today

Witness the winner in the Granite State was Vermont Senator and man regretting picking a Jay-Z song at karaoke.

Examples

  • Witness the winner in the Granite State was Vermont Senator and man regretting picking a Jay-Z song at karaoke.

    The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

  • The Granite State is known for its beautiful mountainous landscapes and lush forests.

  • Hiking in the Granite State offers breathtaking views of its famous granite cliffs.

Synonyms

New Hampshire
vsGranite State
496 1.6

A state in the northeastern United States with mountains and small towns

is a regional nickname that emphasizes the state's granite formations
NH
vsGranite State
15 2.4

A state in the northeast of the United States with capital Concord

is a regional nickname highlighting granite formations not a simple unpunctuated abbreviation
N.H.
vsGranite State
2.5

A state in the northeast of the United States with capital Concord

is a nickname stressing the region's granite rather than a written short form

Surface Forms

Granite State main

Morphology

granite + state

The compound 'Granite State' is transparently composed from 'granite' + 'state' and directly signals a state characterized by granite formations, so a B1 learner who knows both words can infer it is a nickname for such a state. Identifying the specific referent (New Hampshire) requires additional cultural/geographical knowledge, but the basic meaning is compositionally clear.

Etymology

Granite State comes from the many mountains and places where people cut granite stone in New Hampshire. So Granite State is a 'nickname' people use to mean the U.S. state of New Hampshire.