copestone
Definition
Noun: 1. A stone that forms the top of a wall or building: A copestone is the final, topmost stone placed in a structure, such as a wall or parapet, often serving to cap or finish it. 2. A final touch; a crowning achievement; a culmination: Used figuratively, a copestone is the finishing or culminating element of a process or endeavor, representing its highest point or most significant accomplishment.
Examples of Usage
- Literal (Stone):
- The mason carefully set the copestone on the garden wall, completing the construction.
- The ancient castle's copestone was carved with intricate symbols.
- Figurative (Achievement):
- Winning the championship was the copestone of her athletic career.
- The publication of his definitive research paper served as the copestone to his life's work.
Advanced Usage
- "To set/place the copestone on something": To complete or perfect something, adding the final, crowning element.
- The successful peace treaty set the copestone on decades of diplomatic effort.
Variants and Related Words
- Coping stone: A more common variant with the same meaning, especially for the literal architectural use.
- Capstone: A direct synonym that is more frequently used in modern English for both literal and figurative meanings.
- Crowning: (adj.) Serving as a final, triumphant touch (e.g., a achievement).
- Culmination: (n.) The highest or climactic point of something.
Synonyms
- Crowning glory: The most outstanding part of an achievement.
- Pinnacle: The most successful point; the peak.
- Final touch: The last detail that completes something.
- Acme: The point at which someone or something is best, perfect, or most successful.
Related Idioms and Phrases
- The crowning touch: An idiom very close in meaning to the figurative use of "copestone," referring to a final detail that makes something perfect or complete.
- The bouquet of fresh flowers on the table was the crowning touch to the dinner party.
Noun
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a stone that forms the top of wall or building
-
a final touch; a crowning achievement; a culmination
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