Langimage
English

limestone

|lime/stone|

B2

🇺🇸

/ˈlaɪmˌstoʊn/

🇬🇧

/ˈlaɪm.stəʊn/

calcium carbonate rock

Etymology
Etymology Information

'limestone' originates from Middle English, specifically the word 'lim' meaning 'lime' and 'stān' meaning 'stone'.

Historical Evolution

'lim' and 'stān' combined in Middle English to form 'limestone', which has remained largely unchanged in modern English.

Meaning Changes

Initially, it referred to any stone containing lime, but now it specifically refers to sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate.

Meanings by Part of Speech

Noun 1

a sedimentary rock composed mainly of calcium carbonate, often used in building and manufacturing.

The ancient temple was built using limestone.

Synonyms

Last updated: 2025/01/11 11:39