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touchstone

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touchstone

Main Entry:: touch·stone
Pronunciation:: \ˈtəch-ˌstōn\
Function:: noun
Date:: 1530

1 : a black siliceous stone related to flint and formerly used to test the purity of gold and silver by the streak left on the stone when rubbed by the metal 2 : a test or criterion for determining the quality or genuineness of a thing 3 : a fundamental or quintessential part or feature : basis <a touchstone film of that decade> <now considered a touchstone of the city's life — Michael Specter>

synonyms see standard

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