door-stone

A small cat sits on the door-stone in the morning sun.

Definition

1. Noun:
   • A stone slab at the entrance of a building: "door-stone" refers to a large, flat stone placed in front of a door, often serving as a threshold or step.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The old cottage had a worn door-stone that had been trodden on for centuries. (A stone slab at the entrance.)
  • She paused on the door-stone to wipe her feet before entering the house. (The stone step before the door.)

Advanced Usage

• "to stand on the door-stone": to wait or linger at the entrance.
  • The beggar stood on the door-stone, hoping for alms. (He waited at the stone slab in front of the door.)

Variants and Related Words

• Doorstone (n): an alternative spelling of "door-stone," meaning the same.

  • The doorstone was cracked from years of use. (The stone slab at the entrance.)

• Threshold (n): a strip of wood or stone forming the bottom of a doorway; often synonymous with "door-stone" but can be made of other materials.

  • He stepped over the threshold and into the hall. (The bottom part of the doorway.)

Synonyms

• Threshold: the piece of stone, wood, or metal at the bottom of a doorway.
• Step: a flat surface for placing the foot when moving from one level to another, especially at a door.
• Sill: the horizontal piece at the base of a door or window frame.

Related Idioms

• Cross the door-stone: to enter a building.
  • Once you cross the door-stone, you are a guest in this house. (Once you enter through the doorway.)