# sand

/ˈsænd/ (US) · /sˈænd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. beach material

noun · CEFR A1

the very small grains of rock found on beaches and in deserts.

For teachers: a granular substance consisting of small, loose grains of rock or mineral. Usually uncountable, though the plural 'sands' is used in literary contexts to describe a large area of it.

- The children spent the whole afternoon playing in the sand at the beach.
- The desert wind whipped the fine sand into towering dunes that shifted position with every passing storm.

### 2. to smooth a surface

verb · CEFR B1

to rub a surface with a rough material like sandpaper to make it smooth.

For teachers: to abrade or smooth a surface using sand or sandpaper. Transitive; requires a direct object representing the surface being treated.

- You need to sand the old wooden chair before you paint it.
- After applying the first coat of primer, the carpenter carefully sanded the cabinet doors to ensure a perfectly level finish for the final lacquer.

### 3. color

adjective · CEFR B2

having a light brownish-yellow color, like the sand on a beach.

For teachers: of a light beige or pale yellowish-brown color resembling typical beach sand.

- She chose a sand colored carpet to make the living room feel warmer.
- The interior designer recommended a sand palette for the walls to complement the natural oak flooring and maximize the sense of space.

### 4. eye mucus

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal · Humorous

the dry, crusty material that sometimes forms in the corners of your eyes while you sleep.

For teachers: the dried mucus or 'sleep' found in the corners of the eyes upon waking. Often used in the phrase 'sand in your eyes'.

- He woke up and rubbed the sand from his eyes before getting out of bed.
- The toddler sat up grumpily, still rubbing the sleep and sand from his eyes after a long afternoon nap.

## Examples

- The children are playing in the sand.
- We spent the whole afternoon walking along the beach with the warm sand between our toes.
- The relentless desert winds shift the sand into massive dunes that can migrate several meters across the landscape each year.

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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.