Word
brownstone
Phoneticsbrown·stone, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈbɹaʊnˌstoʊn/
UK/bɹˈaʊnstəʊn/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a type of tall, narrow house in a row with a front made of brown stone. You see them a lot in older city neighbourhoods.
n. a row house faced with brown sandstone, typical of 19th-century New York and other eastern US cities. Also refers to the brown sandstone itself used for such facades.
Examples
“They live in an old brownstone with a small garden.”
“She rents a small apartment in a brownstone with high ceilings and original wood floors.”
“The block of brownstones, their stoops worn smooth by generations of residents, still commands premium prices despite narrow floor plans and costly upkeep.”
Examples
simple
“They live in an old brownstone with a small garden.”
contextual
“She rents a small apartment in a brownstone with high ceilings and original wood floors.”
complex
“The block of brownstones, their stoops worn smooth by generations of residents, still commands premium prices despite narrow floor plans and costly upkeep.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “brownstone” in context.
Verb
01. brownstone overlooks
“The brownstone overlooks a quiet, tree-lined square in the old district.”
noun + verb
02. buy brownstone
“They hope to buy a brownstone in Harlem within the next two years.”
verb + noun
03. live in brownstone
“My professor lives in a brownstone just off Central Park West.”
verb + prep + noun
Adjective
04. classic brownstone
“She lives in a classic brownstone with high ceilings and a garden stoop.”
adj + noun
05. elegant brownstone
“The elegant brownstone featured original moldings and marble fireplaces.”
adj + noun
06. historic brownstone
“They toured a historic brownstone in Brooklyn Heights built in the 1880s.”
adj + noun
Noun
07. brownstone row
“The entire brownstone row has been listed as a historic landmark.”
noun + noun
08. brownstone stoop
“Neighbours gathered on the brownstone stoop on warm summer evenings.”
noun + noun
09. facade of brownstone
“The facade of the brownstone was cleaned and repointed last spring.”
noun + prep + noun
10. buy a renovated brownstone
“They bought a renovated brownstone with four bedrooms and a garden.”
11. grow up in a brownstone
“He grew up in a brownstone shared by three generations of his family.”
12. live in a classic brownstone
“She has always dreamed of living in a classic brownstone in Manhattan.”
Real-World Examples
“A brownstone on East 73rd Street was a sanctuary for Gloria Steinem, the trailblazing feminist who died there on Wednesday at age 92.” “The proud, stately brownstones of Brooklyn are the stuff of residential dreams for many New Yorkers.” “A Brooklyn brownstone in the upper crust Brooklyn Heights neighborhood sold for $24.5 million this week, according to city records, marking the highest sale in the borough so far this year.” “Across from the Russells' marble mansion, the haughty Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) sits in her brownstone, upholding the standards of her class against the nouveau riche and their ilk.” Etymology
From brown + stone.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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