sand

¹sand

noun \ˈsand\

Definition of SAND

1

a : a loose granular material that results from the disintegration of rocks, consists of particles smaller than gravel but coarser than silt, and is used in mortar, glass, abrasives, and foundry molds

b : soil containing 85 percent or more of sand and a maximum of 10 percent of clay; broadly : sandy soil

2

a : a tract of sand : beach

b : a sandbank or sandbar

3

: the sand in an hourglass; also : the moments of a lifetime —usually used in plural <the sands of this government run out very rapidly — H. J. Laski>

4

: an oil-producing formation of sandstone or unconsolidated sand

5

: firm resolution

6

: a yellowish-gray color

Examples of SAND

1. The beaches are covered with pinkish sand.
2. I have sand in my shoe.
3. The children are playing in the sand.
4. She walked across the hot sand.

Origin of SAND

Middle English, from Old English; akin to Old High German sant sand, Latin sabulum, Greek psammos

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to SAND

Synonyms

beachfront, sand(s), strand

Related Words

seaboard, seacoast, seashore, seaside; coast, coastland, coastline, shore, shoreline; oceanfront, shorefront, waterfront; bank, riverbank, riverfront, riverside; esplanade; littoral; lido, plage

Rhymes with SAND

band, bland, brand, canned, gland, grand, hand, land, manned, NAND, rand, Sand, stand, strand

²sand

transitive verb

Definition of SAND

1

: to sprinkle or dust with or as if with sand

2

: to cover or fill with sand

3

: to smooth or dress by grinding or rubbing with an abrasive (as sandpaper)

Examples of SAND

1. You should sand the shelf before painting it.
2. Be sure to sand before you paint the shelf.
3. The streets are slippery because they haven't been sanded yet.

First Known Use of SAND

14th century

Related to SAND

Synonyms

buff, file, hone, rasp, rub, grind

Related Words

plane, scrape; sandblast, scour; burnish, dress, gloss, polish, shine, smooth; edge, hone, sharpen, strop, whet; regrind

Near Antonyms

coarsen, rough (up), roughen, scuff

Sand

biographical name \ˈsand, ˈsäⁿ(n)d, ˈsäⁿ\

Definition of SAND

George 1804–1876 pseud. of Amandine-Aurore-Lucie (or -Lucile ) Du*de*vant \dued-ˈväⁿ, due-də-\ née Dupin Fr. writer

Rhymes with SAND

band, bland, brand, canned, gland, grand, hand, land, manned, NAND, rand, sand, stand, strand

sand

noun \ˈsand\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of SAND

: gritty particles in various body tissues or fluids—see brain sand

sand

noun    (Concise Encyclopedia)

Mineral, rock, or soil particles that are 0.0008–0.08 in. (0.02–2 mm) in diameter. Most rock-forming minerals are found in sand, but quartz is by far the most common. Most sands also contain a small quantity of feldspar, as well as white mica. All sands contain small quantities of heavy rock-forming minerals, including garnet, tourmaline, zircon, rutile, topaz, pyroxenes, and amphiboles. In the pottery and glassmaking industries very pure quartz sands are used as a source of silica. Similar sands are used for lining the hearths of steel furnaces. Molds used in foundries for casting metal are made of sand with a clay binder. Quartz and garnet sands are used extensively as abrasives. Among ordinary sand's many uses, it is a basic ingredient of mortar, cement, and concrete. See also tar sand.