Word
cobblestone
Phoneticscob·ble·stone, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈkɑbəɫˌstoʊn/
UK/kˈɒbəlstˌəʊn/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a small, round stone used to make a road or a path. These stones are often used in old towns to make the streets look pretty and historic.
n. a small, rounded stone used as a paving material for roads or walkways. Often associated with historical or tourist districts for aesthetic reasons.
Examples
“The old town is famous for its narrow cobblestone streets.”
“Walking across the wet cobblestone path was tricky because the stones were slippery after the rain.”
“The preservation society worked hard to ensure that the original cobblestone layout of the village square remained intact despite the modernization of the surrounding infrastructure.”
Examples
simple
“The old town is famous for its narrow cobblestone streets.”
contextual
“Walking across the wet cobblestone path was tricky because the stones were slippery after the rain.”
complex
“The preservation society worked hard to ensure that the original cobblestone layout of the village square remained intact despite the modernization of the surrounding infrastructure.”
Real-World Examples
“Meloni said people in Turin were detained while "carrying cobblestones and window-breaking hammers", while a train station in Bologna was closed as a precaution after similar disorder.” Etymology
From Middle English cobylstone, cobyllstone, kobilstane, kobill-stane, equivalent to cobble + stone. Compare Old Norse köppusteinn (“boulder”), Danish kampesten (“boulder”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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