Word
touchstone
Phoneticstouch·stone, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈtətʃˌstoʊn/
UK/tˈʌtʃstəʊn/
Definition
n. a standard or test that helps you judge the quality or value of something. You use it to compare a new thing to a well-known example.
n. a standard or criterion used to evaluate or judge the quality, authenticity, or value of something. Often used metaphorically to describe a benchmark against which other works or ideas are measured.
Examples
“The new movie is a touchstone for modern horror films.”
“The critic argued that the novel serves as a touchstone for the entire genre, influencing every writer that followed.”
“While the artist's early works were experimental, his later pieces became the touchstone for the movement, defining its aesthetic and technical standards for decades.”
Examples
simple
“The new movie is a touchstone for modern horror films.”
contextual
“The critic argued that the novel serves as a touchstone for the entire genre, influencing every writer that followed.”
complex
“While the artist's early works were experimental, his later pieces became the touchstone for the movement, defining its aesthetic and technical standards for decades.”
Real-World Examples
“Therefore, whether paleobotanists can find fossils resembling free carpels has become a touchstone for these botanists.” “During this time he chalked up a remarkable record as a dissident from his party’s frontbench policy on a wide range of leftwing touchstone issues.” Etymology
From touch + stone.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/touchstone