# Stones

/ˈstoʊnz/ (US) · /stˈəʊnz/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. pieces of rock

noun · CEFR A1

more than one small, hard piece of rock found on the ground.

For teachers: the plural form of stone, referring to multiple individual pieces of rock or mineral substance.

- The children spent the afternoon skipping stones across the surface of the lake.
- The path was covered in sharp stones that made walking difficult without thick-soled boots.

Usage: Countable in this sense.

### 2. unit of weight

noun · CEFR B2 · British English

a British unit for measuring how much a person weighs.

For teachers: a British unit of weight equal to 14 pounds (approximately 6.35 kilograms).

- He told the doctor he had lost two stones since his last check-up.
- Although the metric system is official, many people in the UK still calculate their body weight in stones and pounds.

Usage: Often remains 'stone' in the plural when used as a measurement (e.g., 'ten stone'), though 'stones' is also used.

### 3. courage

noun · CEFR C1 · Slang · Informal

a slang word for having a lot of courage or being very brave.

For teachers: a slang term denoting significant courage, nerve, or audacity.

- It took a lot of stones to stand up to the boss like that.
- The negotiator showed real stones by walking away from the deal when the terms became unfavourable.

Teaching tip: This term is derived from a vulgar anatomical reference; use it only in very casual or rough company.

## Examples

- It took real stones to tell the boss he was wrong.
- The young reporter showed some serious stones by asking the politician about the scandal during the live broadcast.
- While his peers hesitated to challenge the board's decision, his willingness to speak up demonstrated the kind of stones required to lead a major corporation through a crisis.

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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.