living stone

noun

plural living stones

: any of a genus (Lithops of the family Aizoaceae) of very small, stemless, succulent plants of southern Africa that typically have a pair of thickened leaves forming a stonelike body with a slit on top from which a usually solitary, sessile flower emerges : lithops

Living stones, named for their rocky appearance, bury the bulk of their leaves underground, taking a dive for shade.

—Mary Hoff

Word History

First Known Use

1930, in the meaning defined above

Geographical Definition

Livingstone

geographical name

Liv·​ing·​stone ˈli-viŋ-stən 

city on the Zambezi River in southern Zambia population 134,000

Biographical Definition

Livingstone

biographical name

Liv·​ing·​stone ˈli-viŋ-stən 

David 1813–1873 Scottish missionary and explorer in Africa