# Cairns

/ˈkɛɹnz/ (US) · /kˈeənz/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cairns
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Definition

small piles of stones built by people to mark a path or a special place. You often see them on top of mountains or along hiking trails to show the way.

For teachers: man-made piles or stacks of stones, typically serving as landmarks, trail markers, or burial monuments. Often found in upland or coastal areas where natural paths are unclear.

## Examples

- Hikers built small cairns to mark the mountain path.
- Without a clear trail through the rocky terrain, we had to look for small stone cairns to find our way back.
- The summit was decorated with several ancient cairns, some of which had stood for centuries as silent sentinels over the desolate highland pass.

## Usage notes

- Usually used in the plural when referring to a series of trail markers.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.