stones
- 01 A1 Beginner
more than one small, hard piece of rock found on the ground.
the plural form of stone, referring to multiple individual pieces of rock or mineral substance.
Simple“The children spent the afternoon skipping stones across the surface of the lake.”
In context“The path was covered in sharp stones that made walking difficult without thick-soled boots.”
UsageCountable in this sense.
- 02 B2 Upper Intermediate
a British unit for measuring how much a person weighs.
a British unit of weight equal to 14 pounds (approximately 6.35 kilograms).
Simple“He told the doctor he had lost two stones since his last check-up.”
In context“Although the metric system is official, many people in the UK still calculate their body weight in stones and pounds.”
UsageOften remains 'stone' in the plural when used as a measurement (e.g., 'ten stone'), though 'stones' is also used.
- 03 C1 Advanced
a slang word for having a lot of courage or being very brave.
a slang term denoting significant courage, nerve, or audacity.
Simple“It took a lot of stones to stand up to the boss like that.”
In context“The negotiator showed real stones by walking away from the deal when the terms became unfavourable.”
Teacher's tipThis term is derived from a vulgar anatomical reference; use it only in very casual or rough company.