Word
tombstone
Phoneticstomb·stone, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtumˌstoʊn/
UK/tˈuːmstəʊn/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a flat stone placed over a grave that shows the name and dates of the person who died. It helps people remember where someone is buried.
n. a stone marker placed at the head of a grave, typically inscribed with the name, birth date, and death date of the deceased.
Examples
“The old tombstone was covered in green moss.”
“Historians often visit the local cemetery to read the inscriptions on each tombstone for genealogical research.”
“Weathered by centuries of coastal rain, the marble tombstone had become nearly illegible, leaving the identity of the merchant buried beneath it a mystery to modern visitors.”
Examples
simple
“The old tombstone was covered in green moss.”
contextual
“Historians often visit the local cemetery to read the inscriptions on each tombstone for genealogical research.”
complex
“Weathered by centuries of coastal rain, the marble tombstone had become nearly illegible, leaving the identity of the merchant buried beneath it a mystery to modern visitors.”
Real-World Examples
“On the first Father’s Day after his death, they sat in front of his tombstone and prayed for him.” “Traces of Flamel's real life are dotted around Paris, including his tombstone, which is a visitor magnet at the Musée de Cluny, France's National Museum of the Middle Ages.” “Someone once sent me a cartoon of a tombstone that said 'at last she sleeps alone'," she wrote.” “It would be another year before Gerard Basquiat ordered a tombstone for his son.” Etymology
From tomb + stone.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
- 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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QR code
englishreference.com/q/tombstone