sandstone

noun sand·stone \ ˈsan(d)-ˌstōn \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

Definition of sandstone

: a sedimentary rock consisting of usually quartz sand united by some cement (such as silica or calcium carbonate)

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Recent Examples of sandstone from the Web

There were lone coyotes and leaping pronghorn that flew across the land as the plains became sandstone bluffs that dropped into deep gorges of the curvy Missouri River.

— andrew evans, chicagotribune.com, "Feel the pull of the prairie on a uniquely American safari in Montana," 5 July 2018
Sometime between 4,500 and 3,000 years ago, people living in southwest England near present-day Devon carefully arranged 18 small pieces of sandstone—each about a foot high and nine inches wide—in two parallel rows.

— kiona n. smith, Ars Technica, "The lost standing stones of Devon are still hiding from archaeologists," 1 July 2018
Class sizes might have been smaller back in 1928 when the school was built — the first graduating class had 48 students — but there was nothing modest about the sandstone castle-like structure at 13800 Ford Road.

— hasan dudar, Detroit Free Press, "This Dearborn high school looks like a castle," 27 June 2018
In Arches, named for its more than 2,000 natural sandstone arches, there’s a half-day guided tour and hike among the spectacular red-rock formations.

— phil marty, chicagotribune.com, "'Southwest Sampler' packs a lot of adventure into short amount of time," 12 June 2018
The new expansion involved the movement of huge amounts of earth, 1,200 feet of a historic sandstone wall, and the construction of extensive granite and concrete committal shelters and walkways.

— michael e. ruane, Washington Post, "Arlington Cemetery to open new section with space-saving pre-dug graves," 4 June 2018
For us, it’s Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park, 932 acres of uplifted, jagged sandstone in California’s Sierra Pelona Mountains, at the north end of Los Angeles County.

— nick davidson, Outside Online, "Visit Westworld for Real," 19 June 2018
Located 50 miles northeast of Las Vegas in the Mojave Desert, Valley of Fire State Park features spectacular red-sandstone spires, arches and other rock formations.

— USA TODAY, "Valley of Fire: A spectacular day trip from Las Vegas," 16 June 2018
The old facade was restored with new sandstone, and the metal-and-glass entry doors have a card reader and intercom system.

— katherine clarke, WSJ, "Penthouse in Gloria Vanderbilt’s Childhood Mansion Asks $30 Million," 6 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sandstone.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.